CGI-69 compositions and methods of use

ABSTRACT

An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to the sequence SEQ ID NO:1, polynucleotides encoding these peptides, and antibodies to the polypeptides are useful in treating metabolic disorders or disorders associated with changes in adipose tissue physiological function or mass.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application 60/213,307, filed Jun. 22, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Metabolic diseases represent a serious public health concern worldwide.

[0003] Obese and overweight individuals account for up to half of the population of the United States, and the incidence of obesity has risen at an alarming rate over the last decade. Compared to lean individuals, overweight persons are particularly susceptible to an array of disorders, including heart disease, high blood pressure, Type II diabetes/insulin resistance, stroke, and others (Must et al., 1999). The etiology of excess weight gain is complex and incompletely understood, but in general, approximately equal contribution of genetics and environmental/social factors occurs with respect to weight gain or loss (Bray, 1997; Hill and Peters, 1998).

[0004] In persons developing overweight or obese conditions, these factors underlie an imbalance between appetite/caloric intake and energy expenditure. Thus, novel strategies that improve energy balance through modulation of appetite and/or metabolic rate are useful to correct relevant diseases including obesity-related disorders such as insulin resistance/diabetes, circulatory system anomalies, etc. Strategies to thwart excessive adipose tissue growth and accretion may also help in the treatment of obesity, or in the treatment of other diseases associated with the presence of inappropriately high amounts of this tissue globally or locally (i.e., lipomas, phaeochromocytomas, hibemomas). Innovative clinical treatments, including improving the circulating or tissue levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, insulin, leptin or other metabolically-relevant molecules, that help normalize one or more of the altered factors concomitant with metabolic derangement would also have tremendous value.

[0005] Increased risks of mortality and morbidity associated with perturbations of metabolism are not confined to the obese, overweight, or diabetic states, however. Cachexia, the loss of appetite, leading to fewer calories taken in compared to caloric requirements, is a feature of numerous disease states, including certain cancers, some viral infections (i.e., acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS), or bacterial infections (i.e., during some stages of sepsis). The clinical prognosis is poor for patients who drift into negative energy balance (Tisdale, 1997), and thus there is a need for new treatments that counteract cachexia. Furthermore, conditions in which energy expenditure is abnormally elevated can benefit from novel modalities that modulate metabolism. In severe bums, for instance, the metabolic rate can rise almost two-fold, making administration of appropriate nutrition a tremendous challenge (Goldstein and Elwyn, 1989; Kinney et al., 1970). Finally, poor outcomes from diseases characterized by excessive adipose tissue loss (i.e., lipoatrophic disorders) are common.

[0006] Treatment of metabolic disease may be in part effected through the innovative use of certain molecules as drugs or as targets of pharmaceutical intervention. However, there is also a pressing need to discover molecules that may be used in creative diagnostic and/or predictive strategies associated with metabolic disease. For instance, alterations in the expression of certain genes and proteins may underlie or mark the progression of metabolic diseases such as obesity. Thus, analysis of the expression of certain genes and proteins in afflicted patients compared to a normal population will assist in unraveling the etiology of their disease, thereby helping in the design of effective therapeutic strategies. Normal patients may be screened for expression in cases in which expression is altered prior to the onset of disease, thus allowing for pre-emptive treatments that can limit metabolic or other disease progression. Furthermore, changes in the gene or protein sequences in certain populations may be associated with disease, hence illustrating the need to discover genes/proteins relevant to metabolic disorders and whose sequences lead to biological changes that predispose to metabolic disease, or are in fact predictive of the progression of disease. Finally, knowledge of such unique genes/proteins will enable tracking of the efficacy of therapeutic modalities designed to treat metabolic diseases. The same case may be made for the use of expression and sequence analysis to monitor or predict the outcome of other diseases associated with excessive fat accretion, or those associated with abnormal fat loss. Discovery of fat-specific genes and proteins are especially attractive in this regard.

[0007] The bulk of animal tissue oxygen consumption is driven by a finely-balanced system in which the rate of mitochondrial catabolism of fuels is regulated largely by the flow of electrons along the electron-transport chain. Concomitant pumping of protons outward across the mitochondrial inner membrane establishes a proton electrochemical gradient or protonmotive force (Δp), which drives ATP synthesis via inward flow of protons through F₁F₀ ATP synthase. Thus, fuel combustion, electron transport, proton flux, and ATP turnover are intimately coupled. However, a portion of the Δp is dissipated as protons flow inward independent of ATP synthase, a phenomenon termed “proton leak” or “uncoupling.” Fuel combustion and electron transport/outward proton pumping increase in response to dissipation of Δp; thus, innate mitochondrial proton leak may account for a significant amount of daily energy expenditure (estimated at between 20-40% of tissue metabolic rate) (Brand, et al., 1994; Rolfe, et al., 1999). Clarifying the molecular basis of proton leak is an active area of research, and holds promise in uncovering target pathways for pharmaceutical intervention to treat obesity and other diseases arising from perturbations of energy balance.

[0008] The first clue that specific proteins may underlie mammalian mitochondrial proton leak emerged from studies of brown adipose tissue (BAT), a specialized tissue in which a large proportion of mitochondrial oxygen consumption is uncoupled from ATP synthesis under conditions in which adaptational thermogenesis is triggered (i.e. cold-exposure in rodents)(Nichols, et al., 1984).

[0009] Mitochondrial carrier proteins (MCPs) are proteins localized to the mitochondrial membrane. MCPs facilitate the transport of molecules across the membrane, such as citrate, protons, and other ions. The level of activity of the MCPs can affect the level of animal tissue oxygen consumption. For example, transportation of protons inward across the membrane would decrease the proton electrochemical gradient. Although dependent on additional factors, this decrease would tend to have the effect of decreasing the net efficiency of ATP synthesis (fuel consumed/ATP yield). An increase in the activity of a MCP with this functionality would result in a further decrease in the net efficiency of ATP synthesis. In a similar fashion, a decrease in the activity of such a MCP would tend to result in an increase in Δp, and a corresponding increase in ATP synthesis. Additionally, an increase in the level of such a MCP within the mitochondria, for example due to an up-regulation of mRNA level, would also tend to decrease energetic efficiency.

[0010] Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a specialized tissue in which a large proportion of mitochondrial oxygen consumption is uncoupled from ATP synthesis under conditions in which adaptational thermogenesis is triggered (i.e. cold-exposure in rodents) (Nichols, et al., 1984). The heat-generating futile cycling of the BAT mitochondrial proton circuit was found to be associated with a specific protein termed uncoupling protein (UCP, subsequently named UCP1) (Nichols, et al., 1984; Ricquier, et al., 1991). Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are one class of MCPs. Despite confinement of UCP1 to BAT under most conditions, significant proton leak occurs in all tissues in which it has been measured (Rolfe, et al., 1994), leading to the possibility that UCPs are present body-wide and impact whole-animal metabolic rate. To date, four putative UCP homologs have been identified, with homolog-specific tissue expression patterns (see Adams, 2000).

SUMMARY

[0011] Using differential display mRNA expression analysis, a previously-uncharacterized gene was found to be upregulated 2-fold in brown adipose tissue (BAT) of mice exposed to cold (4° C.) for 48 hr. Contig and homology analysis revealed that the gene represents the murine ortholog to a public database sequence encoding a putative human protein (CGI-69). Isolation of CGI-69 cDNA from human liver revealed variants of CGI-69, including a previously undescribed nucleic acid encoding a “long version” of CGI-69 (CGI-69_(L)). CGI-69 and CGI-69_(L) are shown herein to be localized in the mitochondrial membrane. Furthermore, a carboxy-terminal tagged CGI-69 is shown herein to act as an uncoupling protein (UCP).

[0012] In one embodiment, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding human CGI-69, a CGI-69 variant, a CGI-69 fusion protein, or fragments thereof.

[0013] In one aspect, the invention provides isolated polypeptides comprising CGI-69, a CGI-69 variant, a CGI-69 fusion protein, or fragments thereof.

[0014] In another aspect of the invention, isolated CGI-69 nucleic acids or polypeptides are used in methods to alter respiration in a cell containing such isolated nucleic acid or polypeptide.

[0015] In yet another aspect of the invention, cells expressing CGI-69 nucleic acids or polypeptides are used in methods of screening compounds for the ability to alter CGI-69 acitvity. Such compounds may be useful in altering respiration in a cell.

[0016] In another embodiment, CGI-69 nucleic acids or polypeptides are used in methods of altering the metabolism of a patient. Such methods may be useful for treating metabolic disorders.

[0017] Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. In the case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

[0018]FIG. 1 depicts an alignment of human CGI-69 (SEQ ID NO:4), CGI-69_(L) (SEQ ID NO:3), and the mouse CGI-69 (SEQ ID NO:18). Boxes correspond to regions of mitochondrial energy transfer signature motifs found in UCP homologs that are reasonably preserved in CGI-69. Mitochodrial carrier domains (Pfam) in human CGI-69 correspond to residues 10-48, 97-144, 152-276, and 298-340. Subsequent to the filing of the priority document, the sequence of human CGI-69_(L) has been assigned GenBank accession numbers AF317711 (cDNA) and AF317711_(—b 1) (protein).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The present invention relates to a novel characterization of the putative protein CGI-69 as a mitochondrial carrier protein, the discovery of the novel splice variant, CGI-69_(L), and the discovery of the alteration of the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ_(m)) through the overexpression of the carboxy-FLAG-tagged CGI-69. Also discussed is the use of the protein, CGI-69 and CGI-69-encoding nucleic acids in diagnosing or treating metabolic diseases in humans. The term “CGI-69” includes splice variants such as CGI-69_(L). Novel evidence for an important function for CGI-69 in modifying the Δψ_(m) in BAT is presented. The white and brown adipose tissue of mammals are known to play a central role in energy storage and metabolic signaling, thus impacting appetite, metabolic rate, and energy balance.

[0020] The mouse ortholog to CGI-69 is up-regulated in mouse BAT upon exposure to cold ambient temperature (T_(a)). Based on this finding, the localization of CGI-69 to the mitochondrial membrane, and the domains shared with other mitochondrial proteins, it has now been discovered that CGI-69 is involved in regulating cellular metabolism. While not being bound by any particular theory, CGI-69 may be involved in cellular thermogenic uncoupling and, therefore, may be utilized to diagnose and treat specific perturbations in metabolic pathways underlying obesity and other metabolic disorders.

[0021] Altering the expression of CGI-69 in a mammal, such as a human, through gene therapy provides a method of treating metabolic diseases, such as obesity or cachexia, or of increasing or of decreasing body weight. The term “metabolic disease” means a condition in which a disruption of normal energy homeostasis is a causative or exacerbating factor underlying disease. For example, metabolic disease includes obesity, wasting disorders such cachexia (associated with, for example, HIV infection, sepsis and trauma, and cancer), and diabetes (including Type II diabetes and insulin resistance).

[0022] Because of the metabolic role of CGI-69 in fat tissues and metabolism, compounds that have the property of increasing or decreasing CGI-69 activity are useful. This increase in activity may be produced in a variety of ways, for example: (1) by increasing or decreasing the copies of the gene in the cell (amplifiers and deamplifiers); (2) by increasing or decreasing transcription of the CGI-69 gene (transcription up-regulators and down-regulators); (3) by increasing or decreasing the translation of CGI-69 mRNA into protein (translation up-regulators and down-regulators); or (4) by increasing or decreasing the activity of CGI-69 itself (agonists and antagonists).

[0023] Compounds that are amplifiers and deamplifiers of CGI-69 can be identified by contacting cells or organisms with the compound; and, then measuring the amount of DNA present that encodes CGI-69 (Ausubel et al., 1987). Compounds that are transcription up-regulators and down-regulators are identified by contacting cells or organisms with the compound, and then measuring the amount of mRNA produced that encodes CGI-69 (Ausubel et al., 1987). Compounds that are translation up-regulators and down-regulators are identified by contacting cells or organisms with the compound, and then measuring the amount of CGI-69 polypeptide produced (Ausubel et al., 1987).

[0024] Compounds that are amplifiers, transcription up-regulators, translation up-regulators or agonists, are effective to combat metabolic diseases that can be ameliorated by increasing CGI-69 or CGI-69 activity, such as obesity or to decrease weight gain. Conversely, compounds that are deamplifiers, transcription down-regulators, translation down-regulators or antagonists, are effective to combat metabolic diseases that can be ameliorated by decreasing CGI-69 or CGI-69 activity, such as cachexia, or to increase weight gain. Gene therapy is another way to up-regulate or down-regulate transcription and/or translation.

[0025] Both CGI-69 polypeptides and the polynucleotides can be used in clinical screens to test for metabolic disease etiology, or to assess the level of risk for these disorders. Tissue samples of a patient can be examined for the amount of CGI-69 polypeptide or CGI-69 mRNA. When amounts significantly smaller or larger than normal are found, they are indicative of metabolic disease or risk of metabolic disease. A mutated CGI-69 can yield altered activity, expression/protein levels, and a patient with such a mutation may have a metabolic disease or be at risk for a metabolic disease. Finally, determining the amount of expression of CGI-69 in a mammal, in a tissue sample, or in a tissue culture, can be used to discover inducers or repressors of the gene.

[0026] High expression of CGI-69 in mouse BAT indicates an important role for this protein in regulating adipose tissue physiological function and hence metabolic homeostasis. Modulation of the protein's activity through agonists or antagonists can therefore be useful in treating metabolic disorders and disorders associated with changes in adipose tissue physiological function or mass. A determination of the abundance of CGI-69 mRNA, CGI-69 protein or CGI-69 biological activity is useful to detect the progression of diseases characterized by perturbations in cellular metabolic function. The efficacy of drugs designed to modulate metabolism, may also be monitored by assessing CGI-69 mRNA/protein/activity levels in clinical samples, which would be expected to change relative to alterations in metabolism. Finally, detection of polymorphisms or mutations in the gene or protein in a patient can be used to predict: (1) the propensity of a person to develop metabolic disease, (2) disease progression rate/prognosis for said disorders, or (3) responses to therapeutic modalities designed to combat metabolic disease.

[0027] Determination of CGI-69 mRNA, proteins or CGI-69 activity levels in clinical samples has predictive value for tracking progression of metabolic disorders or in cases in which therapeutic modalities are applied to correct said disorders. Such determinations of CGI-69 are useful in screening assays designed to discover drugs or other therapeutic modalites that modulate metabolic function.

[0028] Variation in the 3′UTR of gene transcripts can modify mRNA stability and hence translation. It is possible that patients suffering from metabolic disorders, or patients destined to have such afflictions, may display disease-specific patterns of variant expression. Thus, determination of the CGI-69 variant profile in clinical samples is of value in diagnosis or prediction of disease progression, or in assessment of the efficacy of therapeutic modalites to treat said disorders.

[0029] These embodiments are accomplished by known methods including those described below.

[0030] Definitions

[0031] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The definitions below are presented for clarity.

[0032] The recommendations of (Demerec et al., 1966) where these are relevant to genetics are adapted herein. To distinguish between genes (and related nucleic acids) and the proteins that they encode, the abbreviations for genes are indicated by italicized (or underlined) text while abbreviations for the proteins are not italicized. Thus, CGI-69 or CGI-69 refers to the nucleotide sequence that encodes CGI-69.

[0033] “Isolated,” when referred to a molecule, refers to a molecule that has been identified and separated and/or recovered from a component of its natural environment. Contaminant components of its natural environment are materials that interfere with diagnostic or therapeutic use.

[0034] 1. Nucleic acid-related definitions

[0035] (a) control sequences

[0036] Control sequences are DNA sequences that enable the expression of an operably-linked coding sequence in a particular host organism. Prokaryotic control sequences include promoters, operator sequences, and ribosome binding sites. Eukaryotic cells utilize promoters, polyadenylation signals, and enhancers.

[0037] (b) operably-linked

[0038] Nucleic acid is operably-linked when it is placed into a functional relationship with another nucleic acid sequence. For example, a promoter or enhancer is operably-linked to a coding sequence if it affects the transcription of the sequence, or a ribosome-binding site is operably-linked to a coding sequence if positioned to facilitate translation. Generally, “operably-linked” means that the DNA sequences being linked are contiguous, and, in the case of a secretory leader, contiguous and in reading phase. However, enhancers do not have to be contiguous. Linking can be accomplished by conventional recombinant DNA methods.

[0039] (c) isolated nucleic acids

[0040] An isolated nucleic acid molecule is purified from the setting in which it is found in nature and is separated from at least one contaminant nucleic acid molecule. Isolated CGI-69 molecules are distinguished from the specific CGI-69 molecule, as it exists in cells. However, an isolated CGI-69 molecule includes CGI-69 molecules contained in cells that ordinarily express CGI-69 where, for example, the nucleic acid molecule is in a chromosomal location different from that of natural cells.

[0041] CGI-69 nucleic acids include those provided in Tables 1 (CGI-69L) and 2 (CGI-69) or a fragment thereof. The start and stop codons for the encoded protein is bolded and underlined. TABLE 1 CGI-69L nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:1) CTGAAGCTTC AAG ATG GCTG ACCAGGACCC TGCGGGCATC AGCCCCCTCC AGCAAATGGT 60 GGCCTCAGGC ACCGGGGCTG TGGTTACCTC TCTCTTCATG ACACCCCTGG ACGTGGTGAA 120 GGTTCGCCTG CAGTCTCAGC GGCCCTCCAT GGCCAGCGAG CTGATGCCTT CCTCCAGACT 180 GTGGAGCCTC TCCTATACCA AATTGCCCTC CTCTCTCCAA TCCACAGGGA AGTGCCTCCT 240 GTATTGCAAT GGTGTCCTGG AGCCTCTGTA CCTGTGCCCA AATGGTGCCC GCTGTGCCAC 300 CTGGTTTCAA GACCCTACCC GCTTCACTGG CACCATGGAT GCCTTCGTGA AGATCGTGAG 360 GCACGAGGGC ACCAGGACCC TCTGGAGCGG CCTCCCCGCC ACCCTGGTGA TGACTGTGCC 420 AGCTACCGCC ATCTACTTCA CTGCCTATGA CCAACTGAAG GCCTTCCTGT GTGGTCGAGC 480 CCTGACCTCT GACCTCTACG CACCCATGGT GGCTGGCGCG CTGGCCCGCC TGGGCACCGT 540 GACTGTGATC AGCCCCCTGG AGCTTATGCG GACAAAGCTG CAGGCTCAGC ATGTGTCGTA 600 CCGGGAGCTG GGTGCCTGTG TTCGAACTGC AGTGGCTCAG GGTGGCTGGC GCTCACTGTG 660 GCTGGGCTGG GGCCCCACTG CCCTTCGAGA TGTGCCCTTC TCAGCCCTGT ACTGGTTCAA 720 CTATGAGCTG GTGAAGAGCT GGCTCAATGG GCTCAGGCCG AAGGACCAGA CTTCTGTGGG 780 CATGAGCTTT GTGGCTGGTG GCATCTCAGG GACGGTGGCT GCAGTGCTGA CTCTACCCTT 840 TGACGTGGTA AAGACCCAAC GCCAGGTCGC TCTGGGAGCG ATGGAGGCTG TGAGAGTGAA 900 CCCCCTGCAT GTGGACTCCA CCTGGCTGCT GCTGCGGAGG ATCCGGGCCG AGTCGGGCAC 960 CAAGGGACTC TTTGCAGGCT TCCTTCCTCG GATCATCAAG GCTGCCCCCT CCTGTGCCAT 1020 CATGATCAGC ACCTATGAGT TCGGCAAAAG CTTCTTCCAG AGGCTGAACC AGGACCGGCT 1080 TCTGGGCGGC TGA AAGGGGC AAGGAGGCAA GGAC 1114

[0042] TABLE 2 CGI-69 nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:2) GGCTAGGTGC GCTGCGAGCG CGCGGAGCCA CGAGGGCGGA CGGACGTAAT GGGCCCGCCT 60 GGCCCTGGGC GCCGCGCCGC ACGAGCACCA GCCTAGAGCC AGGACTGAAG CTTCAAG ATG 120 GCTGACCAGG ACCCTGCGGG CATCAGCCCC CTCCAGCAAA TGGTGGCCTC AGGCACCGGG 180 GCTGTGGTTA CCTCTCTCTT CATGACACCC CTGGACGTGG TGAAGGTTCG CCTGCAGTCT 240 CAGCGGCCCT CCATGGCCAG CGAGCTGATG CCTTCCTCCA GACTGTGGAG CCTCTCCTAT 300 ACCAAATGGA AGTGCCTCCT GTATTGCAAT GGTGTCCTGG AGCCTCTGTA CCTGTGCCCA 360 AATGGTGCCC GCTGTGCCAC CTGGTTTCAA GACCCTACCC GCTTCACTGG CACCATGGAT 420 GCCTTCGTGA AGATCGTGAG GCACGAGGGC ACCAGGACCC TCTGGAGCGG CCTCCCCGCC 480 ACCCTGGTGA TGACTGTGCC AGCTACCGCC ATCTACTTCA CTGCCTATGA CCAACTGAAG 540 GCCTTCCTGT GTGGTCGAGC CCTGACCTCT GACCTCTACG CACCCATGGT GGCTGGCGCG 600 CTGGCCCGCC TGGGCACCGT GACTGTGATC AGCCCCCTGG AGCTTATGCG GACAAAGCTG 660 CAGGCTCAGC ATGTGTCGTA CCGGGAGCTG GGTGCCTGTG TTCGAACTGC AGTGGCTCAG 720 GGTGGCTGGC GCTCACTGTG GCTGGGCTGG GGCCCCACTG CCCTTCGAGA TGTGCCCTTC 780 TCAGCCCTGT ACTGGTTCAA CTATGAGCTG GTGAAGAGCT GGCTCAATGG GTTCAGGCCG 840 AAGGACCAGA CTTCTGTGGG CATGAGCTTT GTGGCTGGTG GCATCTCAGG GACGGTGGCT 900 GCAGTGCTGA CTCTACCCTT TGACGTGGTA AAGACCCAAC GCCAGGTCGC TCTGGGAGCG 960 ATGGAGGCTG TGAGAGTGAA CCCCCTGCAT GTGGACTCCA CCTGGCTGCT GCTGCGGAGG 1020 ATCCGGGCCG AGTCGGGCAC CAAGGGACTC TTTGCAGGCT TCCTTCCTCG GATCATCAAG 1080 GCTGCCCCCT CCTGTGCCAT CATGATCAGC ACCTATGAGT TCGGCAAAAG CTTCTTCCAG 1140 AGGCTGAACC AGGACCGGCT TCTGGGCGGC TGA AAGGGGC AAGGAGGCAA GGACCCCGTC 1200 TCTCCCACGG ATGGGGAGAG GGCAGGAGGA GACCCAGCCA AGTGCCTTTT CCTCAGCACT 1260 GAGGGAGGGG GCTTGTTTCC CTTCCCTCCC GGCGACAAGC TCCAGGGCAG GGCTGTCCCT 1320 CTGGGCGGCC CAGCACTTCC TCAGACACAA CTTCTTCCTG CTGCTCCAGT CGTGGGGATC 1380 ATCACTTACC CACCCCCCAA GTTCAAGACC AAATCTTCCA GCTGCCCCCT TCGTGTTTCC 1440 CTGTGTTTGC TGTAGCTGGG CATGTCTCCA GGAACCAAGA AGCCCTCAGC CTGGTGTAGT 1500 CTCCCTGACC CTTGTTAATT CCTTAAGTCT AAAGATGATG AACTTC 1556

[0043] 2. Protein-related definitions

[0044] (a) purified polypeptide

[0045] When the molecule is a purified polypeptide, the polypeptide will be purified (1) to obtain at least 15 residues of N-terminal or internal amino acid sequence using a sequenator, or (2) to homogeneity by SDS-PAGE under non-reducing or reducing conditions using Coomassie blue or silver stain. Isolated polypeptides include those expressed heterologously in genetically-engineered cells or expressed in vitro, since at least one component of the CGI-69 natural environment will not be present. Ordinarily, isolated polypeptides are prepared by at least one purification step.

[0046] (b) active polypeptide

[0047] An active CGI-69 CGI-69 fragment retains a biological activity of native or naturally-occurring CGI-69. Biological activity or refers to a function, either inhibitory or stimulatory, caused by a native CGI-69. A biological activity of CGI-69 includes, for example, mitochondrial localization.

[0048] CGI-69 polypeptides include the amino acids whose sequences are provided in Tables 3 (CGI-69L) and 4 (CGI-69) or a fragment thereof.

[0049] A polypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NO: 1 is presented in Table 3. TABLE 3 CGI-69_(L) polypeptide sequence (SEQ ID NO:3) MADQDPAGISPLQQMVASGTGAVVTSLFMTPLDVVKVRLQSQRPSMASELMPS SRLWSLSYTKLPSSLQSTGKCLLYCNGVLEPLYLCPNGARCATWFQDPTRFTG TMDAFVKIVRHEGTRTLWSGLPATLVMTVPATAIYFTAYDQLKAFLCGRALTS DLYAPMVAGALARLGTVTVISPLELMRTKLQAQHVSYRELGACVRTAVAQGGW RSLWLGWGPTALRDVPFSALYWFNYELVKSWLNGLRPKDQTSVGMSFVAGGIS GTVAAVLTLPFDVVKTQRQVALGAMEAVRVNPLHVDSTWLLLRRIRAESGTKG LFAGFLPRIIKAAPSCAIMISTYEFGKSFFQRLNQDRLLGG

[0050] A polypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NO:2 is presented in Table 4. TABLE 4 CGI-69 polypeptide sequence (SEQ ID NO:4) MADQDPAGISPLQQMVASGTGAVVTSLFMTPLDVVKVRLQSQRPSMASELMPS SRLWSLSYTKWKCLLYCNGVLEPLYLCPNGARCATWFQDPTRFTGTMDAFVKI VRHEGTRTLWSGLPATLVMTVPATAIYFTAYDQLKAFLCGRALTSDLYAPMVA GALARLGTVTVISPLELMRTKLQAQHVSYRELGACVRTAVAQGGWRSLWLGWG PTALRDVPFSALYWFNYELVKSWLNGFRPKDQTSVGMSFVAGGISGTVAAVLT LPFDVVKTQRQVALGAMEAVRVNPLHVDSTWLLLRRIRAESGTKGLFAGFLPR IIKAAPSCAIMISTYEFGKSFFQRLNQDRLLGG

[0051] 1. probes

[0052] Probes are nucleic acid sequences of variable length, preferably between at least about 10 nucleotides (nt), 100 nt, or many (e.g., 6,000 nt) depending on the specific use. Probes are used to detect identical, similar, or complementary nucleic acid sequences. Longer length probes can be obtained from a natural or recombinant source, are highly specific, and much slower to hybridize than shorter-length oligomer probes. Probes may be single- or double-stranded and designed to have specificity in PCR, membrane-based hybridization technologies, or ELISA-like technologies. Probes are substantially purified oligonucleotides that will hybridize under stringent conditions to at least optimally 12, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350 or 400 consecutive sense strand nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOS:1 or 2; or an anti-sense strand nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOS:1 or 2; or of a naturally occurring mutant of SEQ ID NOS:1 or 2.

[0053] The full- or partial length native sequence CGI-69 may be used to “pull out” similar (homologous) sequences (Ausubel et al., 1987; Sambrook, 1989), such as: (1) full-length or fragments of CGI-69 cDNA from a cDNA library from any species (e.g. human, murine, feline, canine, bacterial, viral, retroviral, yeast), (2) from cells or tissues, (3) variants within a species, and (4) homologues and variants from other species. To find related sequences that may encode related genes, the probe may be designed to encode unique sequences or degenerate sequences. Sequences may also be genomic sequences including promoters, enhancer elements and introns of native sequence CGI-69.

[0054] For example, a CGI-69 coding region in another species may be isolated using such probes. A probe of about 40 bases is designed, based on CGI-69, and made. To detect hybridizations, probes are labeled using, for example, radionucleotides such as ³²P or ³⁵S, or enzymatic labels such as alkaline phosphatase coupled to the probe via avidin-biotin systems. Labeled probes are used to detect nucleic acids having a complementary sequence to that of CGI-69 in libraries of cDNA, genomic DNA or mRNA of a desired species.

[0055] Such probes can be used as a part of a diagnostic test kit for identifying cells or tissues which mis-express a CGI-69, such as by measuring a level of CGI-69 in a sample of cells from a subject e.g., detecting CGI-69 mRNA levels or determining whether a genomic CGI-69 has been mutated or deleted.

[0056] 2. isolated nucleic acid

[0057] An isolated nucleic acid molecule is separated from other nucleic acid molecules that are present in the natural source of the nucleic acid. Preferably, an isolated nucleic acid is free of sequences that naturally flank the nucleic acid (i.e., sequences located at the 5′- and 3′-termini of the nucleic acid) in the genomic DNA of the organism from which the nucleic acid is derived. For example, in various embodiments, isolated CGI-69 molecules can contain less than about 5 kb, 4 kb, 3 kb, 2 kb, 1 kb, 0.5 kb or 0.1 kb of nucleotide sequences which naturally flank the nucleic acid molecule in genomic DNA of the cell/tissue from which the nucleic acid is derived (e.g., brain, heart, liver, spleen, etc.). Moreover, an isolated nucleic acid molecule, such as a cDNA molecule, can be substantially free of other cellular material or culture medium when produced by recombinant techniques, or of chemical precursors or other chemicals when chemically synthesized.

[0058] A nucleic acid molecule of the CGI-69, e.g., a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOS:1 or 2, or a complement, can be isolated using standard molecular biology techniques and the provided sequence information. Using all or a portion of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:1 or 2 as a hybridization probe, CGI-69 molecules can be isolated using standard hybridization and cloning techniques (Ausubel et al., 1987; Sambrook, 1989).

[0059] PCR amplification techniques can be used to amplify CGI-69 using cDNA, mRNA or alternatively, genomic DNA, as a template and appropriate oligonucleotide primers. Such nucleic acids can be cloned into an appropriate vector and characterized by DNA sequence analysis. Furthermore, oligonucleotides corresponding to CGI-69 sequences can be prepared by standard synthetic techniques, e.g., an automated DNA synthesizer.

[0060] 3. oligonucleotide

[0061] An oligonucleotide comprises a series of linked nucleotide residues, which oligonucleotide has a sufficient number of nucleotide bases to be used in a PCR reaction or other application. A short oligonucleotide sequence may be based on, or designed from, a genomic or cDNA sequence and is used to amplify, confirm, or reveal the presence of an identical, similar or complementary DNA or RNA in a particular cell or tissue. Oligonucleotides comprise portions of a nucleic acid sequence having about 10 nt, 50 nt, or 100 nt in length, preferably about 15 nt to 30 nt in length. In one embodiment of the invention, an oligonucleotide comprising a nucleic acid molecule less than 100 nt in length would further comprise at least 6 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 2, or a complement thereof. Oligonucleotides may be chemically synthesized and may also be used as probes.

[0062] 4. complementary nucleic acid sequences; binding

[0063] In another embodiment, an isolated nucleic acid molecule of CGI-69 comprises a nucleic acid molecule that is a complement of the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NOS:1 or 2, or a portion of this nucleotide sequence (e.g., a fragment that can be used as a probe or primer or a fragment encoding a biologically-active portion of a CGI-69). A nucleic acid molecule that is complementary to the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NOS:1 or 2, is one that is sufficiently complementary to the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NOS:1 or 2, that it can hydrogen bond with little or no mismatches to the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NOS:1 or 2, thereby forming a stable duplex.

[0064] “Complementary” refers to Watson-Crick or Hoogsteen base pairing between nucleotides units of a nucleic acid molecule, and the term “binding” means the physical or chemical interaction between two polypeptides or compounds or associated polypeptides or compounds or combinations thereof. Binding includes ionic, non-ionic, van der Waals, hydrophobic interactions, and the like. A physical interaction can be either direct or indirect. Indirect interactions may be through or due to the effects of another polypeptide or compound. Direct binding refers to interactions that do not take place through, or due to, the effect of another polypeptide or compound, but instead are without other substantial chemical intermediates.

[0065] 5. Fragments

[0066] Nucleic acid fragments are at least 6 (contiguous) nucleic acids or at least 4 (contiguous) amino acids, a length sufficient to allow for specific hybridization in the case of nucleic acids or for specific recognition of an epitope in the case of amino acids, respectively, and are at most some portion less than a full-length sequence. Of course, any length in between is contemplated. Fragments may be derived from any contiguous portion of a nucleic acid or amino acid sequence of choice.

[0067] 6. derivatives and analogs

[0068] Derivatives are nucleic acid sequences or amino acid sequences formed from the native compounds either directly or by modification or partial substitution. Analogs are nucleic acid sequences or amino acid sequences that have a structure similar to, but not identical to, the native compound but differ from it in respect to certain components or side chains. Analogs may be synthetic or from a different evolutionary origin and may have a similar or opposite metabolic activity compared to wild type. Homologs are nucleic acid sequences or amino acid sequences of a particular gene that are derived from different species.

[0069] Derivatives and analogs may be full length or other than full length, if the derivative or analog contains a modified nucleic acid or amino acid. Derivatives or analogs of the nucleic acids or proteins of CGI-69 include, but are not limited to, molecules comprising regions that are substantially homologous to the nucleic acids or proteins of CGI-69, in various embodiments, by at least about 70%, 80%, or 95% identity (with a preferred identity of 80-95%) over a nucleic acid or amino acid sequence of identical size or when compared to an aligned sequence in which the alignment is done by a computer homology program known in the art, or whose encoding nucleic acid is capable of hybridizing to the complement of a sequence encoding the aforementioned proteins under stringent, moderately stringent, or low stringent conditions (Ausubel et al., 1987).

[0070] 7. homology

[0071] A “homologous nucleic acid sequence” or “homologous amino acid sequence,” or variations thereof, refer to sequences characterized by a homology at the nucleotide level or amino acid level as discussed above. Homologous nucleotide sequences encode those sequences coding for isoforms of CGI-69. Isoforms can be expressed in different tissues of the same organism as a result of, for example, alternative splicing of RNA. For example, CGI-69_(L) is an isoform of CGI-69. Alternatively, different genes can encode isoforms. For CGI-69, homologous nucleotide sequences include nucleotide sequences encoding for an CGI-69 of species other than humans, including, but not limited to: vertebrates, e.g., frog, mouse, (see FIG. 2), rat, rabbit, dog, cat, cow, horse, and other organisms. Homologous nucleotide sequences also include, but are not limited to, naturally occurring allelic variations and mutations of the nucleotide sequences set forth herein. A homologous nucleotide sequence does not, however, include the exact nucleotide sequence encoding human CGI-69. Homologous nucleic acid sequences include those nucleic acid sequences that encode conservative amino acid substitutions (see below) in SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4, as well as a polypeptide possessing CGI-69 biological activity. Various biological activities of the CGI-69 are described below.

[0072] 8. open reading frames

[0073] The open reading frame (ORF) of a CGI-69 gene encodes CGI-69 or CGI-⁶⁹ _(L). An ORF is a nucleotide sequence that has a start codon (ATG) and terminates with one of the three “stop” codons (TAA, TAG, or TGA). In this invention, however, an ORF may be any part of a coding sequence that may or may not comprise a start codon and a stop codon. To achieve a unique sequence, preferable CGI-69 ORFs encode at least 50 amino acids.

[0074] CGI-69 polypeptides

[0075] 1. mature

[0076] A CGI-69 can encode a mature CGI-69. A “mature” form of a polypeptide or protein disclosed in the present invention is the product of a naturally occurring polypeptide or precursor form or proprotein. The naturally occurring polypeptide, precursor or proprotein includes, by way of nonlimiting example, the full-length gene product, encoded by the corresponding gene. Alternatively, it may be defined as the polypeptide, precursor or proprotein encoded by an open reading frame described herein. The product “mature” form arises, again by way of nonlimiting example, as a result of one or more naturally occurring processing steps as they may take place within the cell, or host cell, in which the gene product arises. Examples of such processing steps leading to a “mature” form of a polypeptide or protein include the cleavage of the N-terminal methionine residue encoded by the initiation codon of an open reading frame, or the proteolytic cleavage of a signal peptide or leader sequence. Thus a mature form arising from a precursor polypeptide or protein that has residues 1 to N, where residue 1 is the N-terminal methionine, would have residues 2 through N remaining after removal of the N-terminal methionine. Alternatively, a mature form arising from a precursor polypeptide or protein having residues 1 to N, in which an N-terminal signal sequence from residue 1 to residue M is cleaved, would have the residues from residue M+1 to residue N remaining. Further as used herein, a “mature” form of a polypeptide or protein may arise from a step of post-translational modification other than a proteolytic cleavage event. Such additional processes include, by way of non-limiting example, glycosylation, myristoylation or phosphorylation. In general, a mature polypeptide or protein may result from the operation of only one of these processes, or a combination of any of them.

[0077] 2. active

[0078] An active CGI-69 polypeptide or CGI-69 polypeptide fragment retains a biological activity similar, but not necessarily identical, to an activity of a naturally-occuring (wild-type) CGI-69 polypeptide, including mature forms. A particular biological assay, with or without dose dependency, can be used to determine CGI-69 activity. A nucleic acid fragment encoding a biologically-active portion of CGI-69 can be prepared by isolating a portion of SEQ ID NOS:1 or 2 that encodes a polypeptide having an CGI-69 biological activity (the biological activities of the CGI-69 are described below), expressing the encoded portion of CGI-69 (e.g., by recombinant expression in vitro) and assessing the activity of the encoded portion of CGI-69. Biological activity refers to a function, either inhibitory or stimulatory, caused by a native CGI-69, for example, mitochondrial localization.

[0079] CGI-69 nucleic acid variants and hybridization

[0080] 1. variant polynucleotides, genes and recombinant genes

[0081] In addition to the CGI-69 sequences shown in SEQ ID NOS:1 or 2, DNA sequence polymorphisms that change the amino acid sequences of the CGI-69 may exist within a population. For example, allelic variation among individuals will exhibit genetic polymorphism in CGI-69. The terms “gene” and “recombinant gene” refer to nucleic acid molecules comprising an open reading frame (ORF) encoding CGI-69, preferably a vertebrate CGI-69. Such natural allelic variations can typically result in 1-5% variance in CGI-69. “CGI-69 variant polynucleotide” or “CGI-69 variant nucleic acid sequence” means a nucleic acid molecule which encodes an active CGI-69 that (1) has at least about 80% nucleic acid sequence identity with a nucleotide acid sequence encoding a full-length native CGI-69, (2) a full-length native CGI-69 lacking the signal peptide, or (3) any other fragment of a full-length CGI-69. Ordinarily, an CGI-69 variant polynucleotide will have at least about 80% nucleic acid sequence identity, more preferably at least about 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% nucleic acid sequence identity and yet more preferably at least about 99% nucleic acid sequence identity with the nucleic acid sequence encoding a full-length native CGI-69. A CGI-69 variant polynucleotide may encode full-length native CGI-69 lacking the signal peptide, or any other fragment of a full-length CGI-69. Variants do not encompass the native nucleotide sequence.

[0082] Ordinarily, CGI-69 variant polynucleotides are at least about 30 nucleotides in length, often at least about 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300, 450, 600 nucleotides in length, more often at least about 900 nucleotides in length, or more.

[0083] “Percent (%) nucleic acid sequence identity” with respect to CGI-69-encoding nucleic acid sequences identified herein is defined as the percentage of nucleotides in CGI-69 that are identical with the nucleotides in a candidate sequence of interest, after aligning the sequences and introducing gaps, if necessary, to achieve the maximum percent sequence identity. Alignment for purposes of determining % nucleic acid sequence identity can be achieved in various ways that are within the skill in the art, for instance, using publicly available computer software such as BLAST, BLAST-2, ALIGN or Megalign (DNASTAR) software. Those skilled in the art can determine appropriate parameters for measuring alignment, including any algorithms needed to achieve maximal alignment over the full length of the sequences being compared.

[0084] When nucleotide sequences are aligned, the % nucleic acid sequence identity of a given nucleic acid sequence C to, with, or against a given nucleic acid sequence D (which can alternatively be phrased as a given nucleic acid sequence C that has or comprises a certain % nucleic acid sequence identity to, with, or against a given nucleic acid sequence D) can be calculated as follows:

% nucleic acid sequence identity=W/Z·100

[0085] where

[0086] W is the number of nucleotides scored as identical matches by the sequence alignment program's or algorithm's alignment of C and D

[0087] and

[0088] Z is the total number of nucleotides in D.

[0089] When the length of nucleic acid sequence C is not equal to the length of nucleic acid sequence D, the % nucleic acid sequence identity of C to D will not equal the % nucleic acid sequence identity of D to C.

[0090] 2. Stringency

[0091] Homologs (i.e., nucleic acids encoding CGI-69 derived from species other than human) or other related sequences (e.g., paralogs) can be obtained by low, moderate or high stringency hybridization with all or a portion of the particular human sequence as a probe using methods well known in the art for nucleic acid hybridization and cloning.

[0092] The specificity of single stranded DNA to hybridize complementary fragments is determined by the “stringency” of the reaction conditions. Hybridization stringency increases as the propensity to form DNA duplexes decreases. In nucleic acid hybridization reactions, the stringency can be chosen to either favor specific hybridizations (high stringency), which can be used to identify, for example, full-length clones from a library. Less-specific hybridizations (low stringency) can be used to identify related, but not exact, DNA molecules (homologous, but not identical) or segments.

[0093] DNA duplexes are stabilized by: (1) the number of complementary base pairs, (2) the type of base pairs, (3) salt concentration (ionic strength) of the reaction mixture, (4) the temperature of the reaction, and (5) the presence of certain organic solvents, such as formamide which decreases DNA duplex stability. In general, the longer the probe, the higher the temperature required for proper annealing. A common approach is to vary the temperature: higher relative temperatures result in more stringent reaction conditions. (Ausubel et al., 1987) provide an excellent explanation of stringency of hybridization reactions.

[0094] To hybridize under “stringent conditions” describes hybridization protocols in which nucleotide sequences at least 60% homologous to each other remain hybridized. Generally, stringent conditions are selected to be about 5° C. lower than the thermal melting point (Tm) for the specific sequence at a defined ionic strength and pH. The Tm is the temperature (under defined ionic strength, pH and nucleic acid concentration) at which 50% of the probes complementary to the target sequence hybridize to the target sequence at equilibrium. Since the target sequences are generally present at excess, at Tm, 50% of the probes are occupied at equilibrium.

[0095] (a) high stringency

[0096] “Stringent hybridization conditions” conditions enable a probe, primer or oligonucleotide to hybridize only to its target sequence. Stringent conditions are sequence-dependent and will differ. Stringent conditions comprise: (1) low ionic strength and high temperature washes (e.g. 15 mM sodium chloride, 1.5 mM sodium citrate, 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate at 50° C.); (2) a denaturing agent during hybridization (e.g. 50% (v/v) formamide, 0.1% bovine serum albumin, 0.1% Ficoll, 0.1% polyvinylpyrrolidone, 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 6.5; 750 mM sodium chloride, 75 mM sodium citrate at 42° C.); or (3) 50% formamide. Washes typically also comprise 5×SSC (0.75 M NaCl, 75 mM sodium citrate), 50 mM sodium phosphate (pH 6.8), 0.1% sodium pyrophosphate, 5×Denhardt's solution, sonicated salmon sperm DNA (50 μg/ml), 0.1% SDS, and 10% dextran sulfate at 42° C., with washes at 42° C. in 0.2×SSC (sodium chloride/sodium citrate) and 50% formamide at 55° C., followed by a high-stringency wash consisting of 0.1×SSC containing EDTA at 55° C. Preferably, the conditions are such that sequences at least about 65%, 70%, 75%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, or 99% homologous to each other typically remain hybridized to each other. These conditions are presented as examples and are not meant to be limiting.

[0097] (b) moderate stringency

[0098] “Moderately stringent conditions” use washing solutions and hybridization conditions that are less stringent (Sambrook, 1989), such that a polynucleotide will hybridize to the entire, fragments, derivatives or analogs of SEQ ID NOS:1 or 2. One example comprises hybridization in 6×SSC, 5×Denhardt's solution, 0.5% SDS and 100 mg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA at 55° C., followed by one or more washes in 1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 37° C. The temperature, ionic strength, etc., can be adjusted to accommodate experimental factors such as probe length. Other moderate stringency conditions have been described (Ausubel et al., 1987; Kriegler, 1990).

[0099] (c) low stringency

[0100] “Low stringent conditions” use washing solutions and hybridization conditions that are less stringent than those for moderate stringency (Sambrook, 1989), such that a polynucleotide will hybridize to the entire, fragments, derivatives or analogs of SEQ ID NOS:1 or 2,. A non-limiting example of low stringency hybridization conditions are hybridization in 35% formamide, 5×SSC, 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 5 mM EDTA, 0.02% PVP, 0.02% Ficoll, 0.2% BSA, 100 mg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA, 10% (wt/vol) dextran sulfate at 40° C., followed by one or more washes in 2×SSC, 25 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.4), 5 mM EDTA, and 0.1% SDS at 50° C. Other conditions of low stringency, such as those for cross-species hybridizations are well-described (Ausubel et al., 1987; Kriegler, 1990; Shilo and Weinberg, 1981).

[0101] 3. Conservative mutations

[0102] In addition to naturally-occurring allelic variants of CGI-69, changes can be introduced by mutation into SEQ ID NOS:1 or 2 that incur alterations in the amino acid sequences of the encoded CGI-69 that do not alter CGI-69 function. For example, nucleotide substitutions leading to amino acid substitutions at “non-essential” amino acid residues can be made in the sequence of SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4. A “non-essential” amino acid residue is a residue that can be altered from the wild-type sequences of the CGI-69 without altering biological activity, whereas an “essential” amino acid residue is required for such biological activity. For example, amino acid residues that are conserved among the CGI-69 of the invention are predicted to be particularly non-amenable to alteration. Amino acids for which conservative substitutions can be made are well known in the art.

[0103] Useful conservative substitutions are shown in Table A, “Preferred substitutions.” Conservative substitutions whereby an amino acid of one class is replaced with another amino acid of the same type fall within the scope of the invention so long as the substitution does not materially alter the biological activity of the compound. If such substitutions result in a change in biological activity, then more substantial changes, indicated in Table B as exemplary, are introduced and the products screened for CGI-69 polypeptide biological activity. TABLE A Preferred substitutions Original residue Exemplary substitutions Preferred substitutions Ala (A) Val, Leu, Ile Val Arg (R) Lys, Gln, Asn Lys Asn (N) Gln, His, Lys, Arg Gln Asp (D) Glu Glu Cys (C) Ser Ser Gln (Q) Asn Asn Glu (E) Asp Asp Gly (G) Pro, Ala Ala His (H) Asn, Gln, Lys, Arg Arg Ile (I) Leu, Val, Met, Ala, Phe, Leu Norleucine Leu (L) Norleucine, Ile, Val, Met, Ile Ala, Phe Lys (K) Arg, Gln, Asn Arg Met (M) Leu, Phe, Ile Leu Phe (F) Leu, Val, Ile, Ala, Tyr Leu Pro (P) Ala Ala Ser (S) Thr Thr Thr (T) Ser Ser Trp (W) Tyr, Phe Tyr Tyr (Y) Trp, Phe, Thr, Ser Phe Val (V) Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Ala, Leu Norleucine

[0104] Non-conservative substitutions that effect (1) the structure of the polypeptide backbone, such as a β-sheet or α-helical conformation, (2) the charge (3) hydrophobicity, or (4) the bulk of the side chain of the target site can modify CGI-69 polypeptide function. Residues are divided into groups based on common side-chain properties as denoted in Table B. Non-conservative substitutions entail exchanging a member of one of these classes for another class. Substitutions may be introduced into conservative substitution sites or more preferably into non-conserved sites. TABLE B Amino acid classes Class Amino acids hydrophobic Norleucine, Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile neutral hydrophilic Cys, Ser, Thr acidic Asp, Glu basic Asn, Gln, His, Lys, Arg disrupt chain Gly, Pro conformation aromatic Trp, Tyr, Phe

[0105] The variant polypeptides can be made using methods known in the art such as oligonucleotide-mediated (site-directed) mutagenesis, alanine scanning, and PCR mutagenesis. Site-directed mutagenesis (Carter, 1986; Zoller and Smith, 1987), cassette mutagenesis, restriction selection mutagenesis (Wells et al., 1985) or other known techniques can be performed on the cloned DNA to produce the CGI-69 variant DNA (Ausubel et al., 1987; Sambrook, 1989).

[0106] In one embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein, wherein the protein comprises an amino acid sequence at least about 45%, preferably 60%, more preferably 70%, 80%, 90%, and most preferably about 95% homologous to SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4.

[0107] 4. Anti-sense nucleic acids

[0108] Using antisense and sense CGI-69 oligonucleotides can prevent CGI-69 polypeptide expression. These oligonucleotides bind to target nucleic acid sequences, forming duplexes that block transcription or translation of the target sequence by enhancing degradation of the duplexes, terminating prematurely transcription or translation, or by other means.

[0109] Antisense or sense oligonucleotides are singe-stranded nucleic acids, either RNA or DNA, which can bind target CGI-69 mRNA (sense) or CGI-69 DNA (antisense) sequences. Anti-sense nucleic acids can be designed according to Watson and Crick or Hoogsteen base pairing rules. The anti-sense nucleic acid molecule can be complementary to the entire coding region of CGI-69 mRNA, but more preferably, to only a portion of the coding or noncoding region of CGI-69 mRNA. For example, the anti-sense oligonucleotide can be complementary to the region surrounding the translation start site of CGI-69 mRNA. Antisense or sense oligonucleotides may comprise a fragment of the CGI-69 DNA coding region of at least about 14 nucleotides, preferably from about 14 to 30 nucleotides. In general, antisense RNA or DNA molecules can comprise at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100 bases in length or more. Among others, (Stein and Cohen, 1988; van der Krol et al., 1988b) describe methods to derive antisense or a sense oligonucleotides from a given cDNA sequence.

[0110] Examples of modified nucleotides that can be used to generate the anti-sense nucleic acid include: 5-fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil, 5-chlorouracil, 5-iodouracil, hypoxanthine, xanthine, 4-acetylcytosine, 5-(carboxyhydroxylmethyl) uracil, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyluracil, dihydrouracil, beta-D-galactosylqueosine, inosine, N6-isopentenyladenine, 1-methylguanine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimethylguanine, 2-methyladenine, 2-methylguanine, 3-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, N6-adenine, 7-methylguanine, 5-methylaminomethyluracil, 5-methoxyaminomethyl-2-thiouracil, beta-D-mannosylqueosine, 5′-methoxycarboxymethyluracil, 5-methoxyuracil, 2-methylthio-N6-isopentenyladenine, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v), wybutoxosine, pseudouracil, queosine, 2-thiocytosine, 5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 2-thiouracil, 4-thiouracil, 5-methyluracil, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methylester, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v), 5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 3-(3-amino-3-N-2-carboxypropyl) uracil, (acp3)w, and 2,6-diaminopurine. Alternatively, the anti-sense nucleic acid can be produced biologically using an expression vector into which a nucleic acid has been subcloned in an anti-sense orientation such that the transcribed RNA will be complementary to a target nucleic acid of interest.

[0111] To introduce antisense or sense oligonucleotides into target cells (cells containing the target nucleic acid sequence), any gene transfer method may be used. Examples of gene transfer methods include (1) biological, such as gene transfer vectors like Epstein-Barr virus or conjugating the exogenous DNA to a ligand-binding molecule, (2) physical, such as electroporation and injection, and (3) chemical, such as CaPO₄ precipitation and oligonucleotide-lipid complexes.

[0112] An antisense or sense oligonucleotide is inserted into a suitable gene transfer retroviral vector. A cell containing the target nucleic acid sequence is contacted with the recombinant retroviral vector, either in vivo or ex vivo. Examples of suitable retroviral vectors include those derived from the murine retrovirus M-MuLV, N2 (a retrovirus derived from M-MuLV), or the double copy vectors designated DCT5A, DCT5B and DCT5C (WO 90/13641, 1990). To achieve sufficient nucleic acid molecule transcription, vector constructs in which the transcription of the anti-sense nucleic acid molecule is controlled by a strong pol II or pol III promoter are preferred. Alternatively, inducible promoters may be preferred when it is desired to control the expression of the construct.

[0113] To specify target cells in a mixed population of cells, cell surface receptors that are specific to the target cells can be exploited. Antisense and sense oligonucleotides are conjugated to a ligand-binding molecule, as described in (WO 91/04753, 1991). Ligands are chosen for receptors that are specific to the target cells. Examples of suitable ligand-binding molecules include cell surface receptors, growth factors, cytokines, or other ligands that bind to cell surface receptors or molecules. Preferably, conjugation of the ligand-binding molecule does not substantially interfere with the ability of the receptors or molecule to bind the ligand-binding molecule conjugate, or block entry of the sense or antisense oligonucleotide or its conjugated version into the cell.

[0114] Liposomes efficiently transfer sense or an antisense oligonucleotide to cells (WO 90/10448, 1990). The sense or antisense oligonucleotide-lipid complex is preferably dissociated within the cell by an endogenous lipase.

[0115] The anti-sense nucleic acid molecule of CGI-69 may be an α-anomeric nucleic acid molecule. An α-anomeric nucleic acid molecule forms specific double-stranded hybrids with complementary RNA in which, contrary to the usual α-units, the strands run parallel to each other (Gautier et al., 1987). The anti-sense nucleic acid molecule can also comprise a 2′-o-methylribonucleotide (Inoue et al., 1987a) or a chimeric RNA-DNA analogue (Inoue et al., 1987b).

[0116] In one embodiment, an anti-sense nucleic acid of CGI-69 is a ribozyme.

[0117] Ribozymes are catalytic RNA molecules with ribonuclease activity that are capable of cleaving a single-stranded nucleic acid, such as an mRNA, to which they have a complementary region. Thus, ribozymes, such as hammerhead ribozymes (Haseloff and Gerlach, 1988) can be used to catalytically cleave CGI-69 mRNA transcripts and thus inhibit translation. A ribozyme specific for an CGI-69-encoding nucleic acid can be designed based on the nucleotide sequence of an CGI-69 cDNA (i.e., SEQ ID NOS:lor 2). For example, a derivative of a Tetrahymena L-19 IVS RNA can be constructed in which the nucleotide sequence of the active site is complementary to the nucleotide sequence to be cleaved in an CGI-69-encoding mRNA (Cech et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,742, 1992; Cech et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,071, 1991). CGI-69 mRNA can also be used to select a catalytic RNA having a specific ribonuclease activity from a pool of RNA molecules (Bartel and Szostak, 1993).

[0118] Alternatively, CGI-69 expression can be inhibited by targeting nucleotide sequences complementary to the regulatory region of the CGI-69 (e.g., the CGI-69 promoter and/or enhancers) to form triple helical structures that prevent transcription of the CGI-69 in target cells (Helene, 1991; Helene et al., 1992; Maher, 1992).

[0119] Modifications of antisense and sense oligonucleotides can augment their effectiveness. Modified sugar-phosphodiester bonds or other sugar linkages (WO 91/06629, 1991), increase in vivo stability by conferring resistance to endogenous nucleases without disrupting binding specificity to target sequences. Other modifications can increase the affinities of the oligonucleotides for their targets, such as covalently linked organic moieties (WO 90/10448, 1990) or poly-(L)-lysine. Other attachments modify binding specificities of the oligonucleotides for their targets, including metal complexes or intercalating (e.g. ellipticine) and alkylating agents.

[0120] For example, the deoxyribose phosphate backbone of the nucleic acids can be modified to generate peptide nucleic acids (Hyrup and Nielsen, 1996). “Peptide nucleic acids” or “PNAs” refer to nucleic acid mimics (e.g., DNA mimics) in that the deoxyribose phosphate backbone is replaced by a pseudopeptide backbone and only the four natural nucleobases are retained. The neutral backbone of PNAs allows for specific hybridization to DNA and RNA under conditions of low ionic strength. The synthesis of PNA oligomers can be performed using standard solid phase peptide synthesis protocols (Hyrup and Nielsen, 1996; Perry-O'Keefe et al., 1996).

[0121] PNAs of CGI-69 can be used in therapeutic and diagnostic applications. For example, PNAs can be used as anti-sense or antigene agents for sequence-specific modulation of gene expression by inducing transcription or translation arrest or inhibiting replication. CGI-69 PNAs may also be used in the analysis of single base pair mutations (e.g., PNA directed PCR clamping; as artificial restriction enzymes when used in combination with other enzymes, e.g., S₁ nucleases (Hyrup and Nielsen, 1996); or as probes or primers for DNA sequence and hybridization (Hyrup and Nielsen, 1996; Perry-O'Keefe et al., 1996).

[0122] PNAs of CGI-69 can be modified to enhance their stability or cellular uptake. Lipophilic or other helper groups may be attached to PNAs, PNA-DNA dimmers formed, or the use of liposomes or other drug delivery techniques. For example, PNA-DNA chimeras can be generated that may combine the advantageous properties of PNA and DNA. Such chimeras allow DNA recognition enzymes (e.g., RNase H and DNA polymerases) to interact with the DNA portion while the PNA portion provides high binding affinity and specificity. PNA-DNA chimeras can be linked using linkers of appropriate lengths selected in terms of base stacking, number of bonds between the nucleobases, and orientation (Hyrup and Nielsen, 1996). The synthesis of PNA-DNA chimeras can be performed (Finn et al., 1996; Hyrup and Nielsen, 1996). For example, a DNA chain can be synthesized on a solid support using standard phosphoramidite coupling chemistry, and modified nucleoside analogs, e.g., 5′-(4-methoxytrityl)amino-5′-deoxy-thymidine phosphoramidite, can be used between the PNA and the 5′ end of DNA (Finn et al., 1996; Hyrup and Nielsen, 1996). PNA monomers are then coupled in a stepwise manner to produce a chimeric molecule with a 5′ PNA segment and a 3′ DNA segment (Finn et al., 1996). Alternatively, chimeric molecules can be synthesized with a 5′ DNA segment and a 3′ PNA segment (Petersen et al., 1976).

[0123] The oligonucleotide may include other appended groups such as peptides (e.g., for targeting host cell receptors in vivo), or agents facilitating transport across the cell membrane (Lemaitre et al., 1987; Letsinger et al., 1989; Tullis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,582, 1988) or the blood-brain barrier (e.g., (Pardridge and Schimmel, WO89/10134,1989)). In addition, oligonucleotides can be modified with hybridization-triggered cleavage agents (van der Krol et al., 1988a) or intercalating agents (Zon, 1988). The oligonucleotide may be conjugated to another molecule, e.g., a peptide, a hybridization triggered cross-linking agent, a transport agent, a hybridization-triggered cleavage agent, and the like.

[0124] CGI-69 polypeptides

[0125] One aspect of the invention pertains to isolated CGI-69, and biologically-active portions derivatives, fragments, analogs or homologs thereof. In one embodiment, native CGI-69 can be isolated from cells or tissue sources by an appropriate purification scheme using standard protein purification techniques. In another embodiment, CGI-69 molecules are produced by recombinant DNA techniques. Alternative to recombinant expression, a CGI-69 or polypeptide can be synthesized chemically using standard peptide synthesis techniques.

[0126] 1. Polypeptides

[0127] A CGI-69 polypeptide includes the amino acid sequence of CGI-69 which sequences are provided in SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4. The invention also includes a mutant or variant protein any of which residues may be changed from the corresponding residues shown in SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4, while still encoding a protein that maintains CGI-69 activities and physiological functions, or a functional fragment thereof.

[0128] 2. Variant CGI-69polypeptides

[0129] In general, an CGI-69 variant preserves CGI-69 -like function and includes any variant in which residues at a particular position in the sequence have been substituted by other amino acids, and further includes the possibility of inserting an additional residue or residues between two residues of the parent protein as well as the possibility of deleting one or more residues from the parent sequence. Any amino acid substitution, insertion, or deletion is encompassed by the invention. In favorable circumstances, the substitution is a conservative substitution as defined above.

[0130] “CGI-69 polypeptide variant” means an active CGI-69 polypeptide having at least: (1) about 80% amino acid sequence identity with a full-length native sequence CGI-69 polypeptide sequence or (2) any fragment of a full-length CGI-69 polypeptide sequence. For example, CGI-69 polypeptide variants include CGI-69 polypeptides wherein one or more amino acid residues are added or deleted at the N- or C-terminus of the full-length native amino acid sequence. An CGI-69 polypeptide variant will have at least about 80% amino acid sequence identity, preferably at least about 81% amino acid sequence identity, more preferably at least about 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% amino acid sequence identity and most preferably at least about 99% amino acid sequence identity with a full-length native sequence CGI-69 polypeptide sequence. Ordinarily, CGI-69 variant polypeptides are at least about 10 amino acids in length, often at least about 20 amino acids in length, more often at least about 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, or 300 amino acids in length, or more.

[0131] “Percent (%) amino acid sequence identity” is defined as the percentage of amino acid residues in CGI-69 that are identical with amino acid residues in a candidate sequence when the two sequences are aligned. To determine % amino acid identity, sequences are aligned and if necessary, gaps are introduced to achieve the maximum % sequence identity; conservative substitutions are not considered as part of the sequence identity. Amino acid sequence alignment procedures to determine percent identity are well known to those of skill in the art.

[0132] Often publicly available computer software such as BLAST, BLAST2, ALIGN2 or Megalign (DNASTAR) software is used to align peptide sequences. Those skilled in the art can determine appropriate parameters for measuring alignment, including any algorithms needed to achieve maximal alignment over the full length of the sequences being compared.

[0133] When amino acid sequences are aligned, the % amino acid sequence identity of a given amino acid sequence A to, with, or against a given amino acid sequence B (which can alternatively be phrased as a given amino acid sequence A that has or comprises a certain % amino acid sequence identity to, with, or against a given amino acid sequence B) can be calculated as:

% amino acid sequence identity=X/Y·100

[0134] where

[0135] X is the number of amino acid residues scored as identical matches by the sequence alignment program's or algorithm's alignment of A and B

[0136] and

[0137] Y is the total number of amino acid residues in B.

[0138] If the length of amino acid sequence A is not equal to the length of amino acid sequence B, the % amino acid sequence identity of A to B will not equal the % amino acid sequence identity of B to A.

[0139] 3. Isolated/purified polypeptides

[0140] An “isolated” or “purified” polypeptide, protein or biologically active fragment is separated and/or recovered from a component of its natural environment. Contaminant components include materials that would typically interfere with diagnostic or therapeutic uses for the polypeptide, and may include enzymes, hormones, and other proteinaceous or non-proteinaceous materials. Preferably, the polypeptide is purified to a sufficient degree to obtain at least 15 residues of N-terminal or internal amino acid sequence. To be substantially isolated, preparations having less than 30% by dry weight of non-CGI-69 contaminating material (contaminants), more preferably less than 20%, 10% and most preferably less than 5% contaminants. An isolated, recombinantly-produced CGI-69 or biologically active portion is preferably substantially free of culture medium, i.e., culture medium represents less than 20%, more preferably less than about 10%, and most preferably less than about 5% of the volume of the CGI-69 preparation. Examples of contaminants include cell debris, culture media, and substances used and produced during in vitro synthesis of CGI-69.

[0141] 4. Biologically active

[0142] Biologically active portions of CGI-69 include peptides comprising amino acid sequences sufficiently homologous to or derived from the amino acid sequences of CGI-69 (SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4) that include fewer amino acids than the full-length CGI-69, and exhibit at least one activity of an CGI-69. Biologically active portions comprise a domain or motif with at least one activity of native CGI-69. A biologically active portion of a CGI-69 can be a polypeptide that is, for example, 10, 25, 50, 100 or more amino acid residues in length. Other biologically active portions, in which other regions of the protein are deleted, can be prepared by recombinant techniques and evaluated for one or more of the functional activities of a native CGI-69.

[0143] Biologically active portions of CGI-69 may have an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4, or substantially homologous to SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4, and retains the functional activity of the protein of SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4, yet differs in amino acid sequence due to natural allelic variation or mutagenesis. Other biologically active CGI-69 may comprise an amino acid sequence at least 45% homologous to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4, and retains the functional activity of native CGI-69 .

[0144] 5. Chimeric and fusion proteins

[0145] Fusion polypeptides are useful in expression studies, cell-localization, bioassays, and CGI-69 purification. A CGI-69 “chimeric protein” or “fusion protein” comprises CGI-69 fused to a non-CGI-69 polypeptide. A non-CGI-69 polypeptide is not substantially homologous to CGI-69 (SEQ ID NOS:3 or 4). A CGI-69 fusion protein may include any portion to the entire CGI-69, including any number of the biologically active portions. CGI-69 may be fused to the C-terminus of the GST (glutathione S-transferase) sequences. Such fusion proteins facilitate the purification of recombinant CGI-69. In certain host cells, (e.g. mammalian), heterologous signal sequences fusions may ameliorate CGI-69 expression and/or secretion. Additional exemplary fusions are presented in Table C.

[0146] Fusion proteins can be easily created using recombinant methods. A nucleic acid encoding CGI-69 can be fused in-frame with a non-CGI-69 encoding nucleic acid, to the CGI-69 NH₂— or COO— -terminus, or internally. Fusion genes may also be synthesized by conventional techniques, including automated DNA synthesizers. PCR amplification using anchor primers that give rise to complementary overhangs between two consecutive gene fragments that can subsequently be annealed and reamplified to generate a chimeric gene sequence (Ausubel et al., 1987) is also useful. Many vectors are commercially available that facilitate sub-cloning CGI-69 in-frame to a fusion moiety.

[0147] Fusion proteins can be used to give CGI-69 compositions a novel characteristic not present in native CGI-69. For example, amino-FLAG-tagged CGI-69 and native CGI-69 have not been shown to exhibit uncoupling activity. In contrast, overexpression of carboxy-FLAG-tagged CGI-69 in 293 cells diminished the mitochondrial membrane potential to a similar magnitude as an uncoupling protein (UCP3). Other negatively charged sequences may have a similar biological function. TABLE C Useful non-CGI-69 fusion polypeptides Reporter in vitro in vivo Notes Reference Human Radio- none Expensive, (Selden growth immuno- insensitive, et al., hormone assay narrow linear 1986) (hGH) range. β-glucu- Colorimetric, colorimetric sensitive, (Gallagher, ronidase fluorescent, (histo- broad linear 1992) (GUS) or chemi- chemical range, non- luminescent staining with iostopic. X-gluc) Green Fluorescent fluorescent can be used in (Chalfie et fluorescent live cells; al., 1994) protein resists photo- (GFP) and bleaching related molecules (RFP, BFP, CGI-69, etc.) Luciferase bioluminse- Bio- protein is (de Wet et (firefly) cent luminescent unstable, al., 1987) difficult to reproduce, signal is brief Chloram- Chromato- none Expensive (Gorman et phenic oal graphy, radioactive al., 1982) acetyltrans- differential substrates, ferase (CAT) extraction, time- fluorescent, consuming, or insensitive, immuno- narrow linear assay range β-galacto- colorimetric, colorimetric sensitive, (Alam and sidase fluorescence, (histo- broad linear Cook, 1990) chemi- chemical range; some luminscence staining with cells have X-gal), bio- high luminescent endogenous in live cells activity Secrete colorimetric, none Chem- (Berger et alkaline biolumines- iluminscence al., 1988) phosphatase cent, chemi- assay is (SEAP) luminescent sensitive and broad linear range; some cells have endogenouse alkaline phosphatase activity Tat from Mediates Mediates Exploits (Frankel HIV delivery into delivery into amino acid et al., cytoplasm cytoplasm residues of U.S. Pat. and nuclei and nuclei HIV tat No. protein. 5,804,604, 1998)

[0148] Therapeutic applications of CGI-69

[0149] 1. Agonists and antagonists

[0150] “Antagonist” includes any molecule that partially or fully blocks, inhibits, or neutralizes a biological activity of endogenous CGI-69. Similarly, “agonist” includes any molecule that mimics a biological activity of endogenous CGI-69. Biologic activity biologic and/or immunologic activities of native or naturally-occurring human OGC. A preferred activity is mitochondrial localization. Molecules that can act as agonists or antagonists include fragments or variants of endogenous CGI-69, peptides, antisense oligonucleotides, small organic molecules, etc.

[0151] 2. Identifying antagonists and agonists

[0152] To assay for antagonists, CGI-69 is added to, or expressed in, a cell along with the compound to be screened for a particular activity. If the compound inhibits the activity of interest in the presence of the CGI-69, that compound is an antagonist to the CGI-69; if CGI-69 activity is enhanced, the compound is an agonist.

[0153] (a) Specific examples ofpotential antagonists and agonist

[0154] Any molecule that alters CGI-69 cellular effects is a candidate antagonist or agonist. Screening techniques well known to those skilled in the art can identify these molecules. Examples of antagonists and agonists include: (1) small organic and inorganic compounds, (2) small peptides, (3) Abs and derivatives, (4) polypeptides closely related to CGI-69, (5) antisense DNA and RNA, (6) ribozymes, (7) triple DNA helices and (8) nucleic acid aptamers.

[0155] Small molecules that bind to the CGI-69 active site or other relevant part of the polypeptide and inhibit the biological activity of the CGI-69 are antagonists. Examples of small molecule antagonists include small peptides, peptide-like molecules, preferably soluble, and synthetic non-peptidyl organic or inorganic compounds. These same molecules, if they enhance CGI-69 activity, are examples of agonists.

[0156] Alternatively, a potential antagonist or agonist may be a closely related protein, for example, a mutated form of the CGI-69 that recognizes an CGI-69-interacting protein but imparts no effect, thereby competitively inhibiting CGI-69 action. Alternatively, a mutated CGI-69 may be constitutively activated and may act as an agonist.

[0157] Antisense RNA or DNA constructs can be effective antagonists. Antisense RNA or DNA molecules block function by inhibiting translation by hybridizing to targeted mRNA. Antisense technology can be used to control gene expression through triple-helix formation or antisense DNA or RNA, both of which depend on polynucleotide binding to DNA or RNA. For example, the 5′ coding portion of the CGI-69 sequence is used to design an antisense RNA oligonucleotide of from about 10 to 40 base pairs in length. A DNA oligonucleotide is designed to be complementary to a region of the gene involved in transcription (triple helix) (Beal and Dervan, 1991; Cooney et al., 1988; Lee et al., 1979), thereby preventing transcription and the production of the CGI-69. The antisense RNA oligonucleotide hybridizes to the mRNA in vivo and blocks translation of the mRNA molecule into the CGI-69 (antisense) (Cohen, 1989; Okano et al., 1991). These oligonucleotides can also be delivered to cells such that the antisense RNA or DNA may be expressed in vivo to inhibit production of the CGI-69. When antisense DNA is used, oligodeoxyribonucleotides derived from the translation-initiation site, e.g., between about −10 and +10 positions of the target gene nucleotide sequence, are preferred.

[0158] Ribozymes are enzymatic RNA molecules capable of catalyzing the specific cleavage of RNA. Ribozymes act by sequence-specific hybridization to the complementary target RNA, followed by endonucleolytic cleavage. Specific ribozyme cleavage sites within a potential RNA target can be identified by known techniques (WO 97/33551, 1997; Rossi, 1994).

[0159] To inhibit transcription, triple-helix nucleic acids that are single-stranded and comprise deoxynucleotides are useful antagonists. These oligonucleotides are designed such that triple-helix formation via Hoogsteen base-pairing rules is promoted, generally requiring stretches of purines or pyrimidines (WO 97/33551, 1997).

[0160] Aptamers are short oligonucleotide sequences that can be used to recognize and specifically bind almost any molecule. The systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) process (Ausubel et al., 1987; Ellington and Szostak, 1990; Tuerk and Gold, 1990) is powerful and can be used to find such aptamers. Aptamers have many diagnostic and clinical uses; almost any use in which an antibody has been used clinically or diagnostically, aptamers too may be used. In addition, aptamers are cheaper to make once they have been identified, and can be easily applied in a variety of formats, including administration in pharmaceutical compositions, bioassays and diagnostic tests (Jayasena, 1999).

[0161] CGI-69 recombinant expression vectors and host cells

[0162] Vectors are tools used to shuttle nucleic acids between host cells or as a means to express a nucleotide sequence. Some vectors function only in prokaryotes, while others function in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, enabling large-scale DNA preparation from prokaryotes for expression in eukaryotes. Inserting a DNA of interest, such as CGI-69 nucleotide sequence or a fragment, is accomplished by ligation techniques and/or mating protocols well known to the skilled artisan. Such DNA is inserted such that its integration does not disrupt any necessary components of the vector. In the case of vectors that are used to express the inserted DNA protein, the introduced DNA is operably-linked to the vector elements that govern its transcription and translation.

[0163] Vectors can be divided into two general classes: Cloning vectors are replicating plasmid or phage with regions that are non-essential for propagation in an appropriate host cell, and into which foreign DNA can be inserted; the foreign DNA is replicated and propagated as if it were a component of the vector. An expression vector (such as a plasmid, yeast, or animal virus genome) is used to introduce foreign genetic material into a host cell or tissue in order to transcribe and translate the foreign DNA. In expression vectors, the introduced DNA is operably-linked to elements, such as promoters, that signal to the host cell to transcribe the inserted DNA. Some promoters are exceptionally useful, such as inducible promoters that control gene transcription in response to specific factors. Operably-linking CGI-69 or anti-sense construct to an inducible promoter can control the expression of CGI-69 or fragments, or anti-sense constructs. Examples of classic inducible promoters include those that are responsive to α-interferon, heat-shock, heavy metal ions, and steroids such as glucocorticoids (Kaufman, 1990) and tetracycline. Other desirable inducible promoters include those that are not endogenous to the cells in which the construct is being introduced, but, however, is responsive in those cells when the induction agent is exogenously supplied.

[0164] Vectors have many difference manifestations. A “plasmid” is a circular double stranded DNA molecule into which additional DNA segments can be introduced. Viral vectors can accept additional DNA segments into the viral genome. Certain vectors are capable of autonomous replication in a host cell (e.g., episomal mammalian vectors or bacterial vectors having a bacterial origin of replication). Other vectors (e.g., non-episomal mammalian vectors) are integrated into the genome of a host cell upon introduction into the host cell, and thereby are replicated along with the host genome. In general, useful expression vectors are often plasmids. However, other forms of expression vectors, such as viral vectors (e.g., replication defective retroviruses, adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses) are contemplated.

[0165] Recombinant expression vectors that comprise CGI-69 (or fragments) regulate CGI-69 transcription by exploiting one or more host cell-responsive (or that can be manipulated in vitro) regulatory sequences that is operably-linked to CGI-69. “Operably-linked” indicates that a nucleotide sequence of interest is linked to regulatory sequences such that expression of the nucleotide sequence is achieved.

[0166] Vectors can be introduced in a variety of organisms and/or cells (Table D). Alternatively, the vectors can be transcribed and translated in vitro, for example using T7 promoter regulatory sequences and T7 polymerase. TABLE D Examples of hosts for cloning or expression Organisms Examples Sources and References* Prokaryotes Enterobacteriaceae E. coli K 12 strain MM294 ATCC 31,446 X1776 ATCC 31,537 W3110 ATCC 27,325 K5 772 ATCC 53,635 Enterobacter Erwinia Klebsiella Proteus Salmonella (S. tyhpimurium) Serratia (S. marcescans) Shigella Bacilli (B. subtilis and B. licheniformis) Pseudomonas (P. aeruginosa) Streptomyces Eukaryotes Yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae Schizosaccharomyces pombe Kluyveromyces (Fleer et al., 1991) K. lactis MW98-8C, (de Louvencourt et al., CBS683, CBS4574 1983) K. fragilis ATCC 12,424 K. bulgaricus ATCC 16,045 K. wickeramii ATCC 24,178 K. waltii ATCC 56,500 K. drosophilarum ATCC 36,906 K. thermotolerans K. marxianus; yarrowia (EPO 402226, 1990) Pichia pastoris (Sreekrishna et al., 1988) Candida Trichoderma reesia Neurospora crassa (Case et al., 1979) Torulopsis Rhodotorula Schwanniomyces (S. occidentalis) Filamentous Neurospora Fungi Penicillium Tolypocladium (WO 91/00357, 1991) Aspergillus (A. nidulans (Kelly and Hynes, 1985; and A. niger) Tilbum et al., 1983; Yelton et al., 1984) Invertebrate Drosophila S2 cells Spodoptera Sf9 Vertebrate Chinese Hamster Ovary cells (CHO) simian COS ATCC CRL 1651 COS-7 HEK 293

[0167] Vector choice is dictated by the organism or cells being used and the desired fate of the vector. Vectors may replicate once in the target cells, or may be “suicide” vectors. In general, vectors comprise signal sequences, origins of replication, marker genes, enhancer elements, promoters, and transcription termination sequences. The choice of these elements depends on the organisms in which the vector will be used and are easily determined. Some of these elements may be conditional, such as an inducible or conditional promoter that is turned “on” when conditions are appropriate. Examples of inducible promoters include those that are tissue-specific, which relegate expression to certain cell types, steroid-responsive, or heat-shock reactive. Some bacterial repression systems, such as the lac operon, have been exploited in mammalian cells and transgenic animals (Fieck et al., 1992; Wyborski et al., 1996; Wyborski and Short, 1991). Vectors often use a selectable marker to facilitate identifying those cells that have incorporated the vector. Many selectable markers are well known in the art for the use with prokaryotes, usually antibiotic-resistance genes or the use of autotrophy and auxotrophy mutants.

[0168] Using antisense and sense CGI-69 oligonucleotides can prevent CGI-69 polypeptide expression. These oligonucleotides bind to target nucleic acid sequences, forming duplexes that block transcription or translation of the target sequence by enhancing degradation of the duplexes, terminating prematurely transcription or translation, or by other means.

[0169] Antisense or sense oligonucleotides are single-stranded nucleic acids, either RNA or DNA, which can bind target CGI-69 mRNA (sense) or CGI-69 DNA (antisense) sequences. According to the present invention, antisense or sense oligonucleotides comprise a fragment of the CGI-69 DNA coding region of at least about 14 nucleotides, preferably from about 14 to 30 nucleotides. In general, antisense RNA or DNA molecules can comprise at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100 bases in length or more. Among others, (Stein and Cohen, 1988; van der Krol et al., 1988b) describe methods to derive antisense or a sense oligonucleotides from a given cDNA sequence.

[0170] Modifications of antisense and sense oligonucleotides can augment their effectiveness. Modified sugar-phosphodiester bonds or other sugar linkages (WO 91/06629, 1991), increase in vivo stability by conferring resistance to endogenous nucleases without disrupting binding specificity to target sequences. Other modifications can increase the affinities of the oligonucleotides for their targets, such as covalently linked organic moieties (WO 90/10448, 1990) or poly-(L)-lysine. Other attachments modify binding specificities of the oligonucleotides for their targets, including metal complexes or intercalating (e.g. ellipticine) and alkylating agents.

[0171] To introduce antisense or sense oligonucleotides into target cells (cells containing the target nucleic acid sequence), any gene transfer method may be used and are well known to those of skill in the art. Examples of gene transfer methods include 1) biological, such as gene transfer vectors like Epstein-Barr virus or conjugating the exogenous DNA to a ligand-binding molecule (WO 91/04753, 1991), 2) physical, such as electroporation, and 3) chemical, such as CaPO₄ precipitation and oligonucleotide-lipid complexes (WO 90/10448, 1990).

[0172] The terms “host cell” and “recombinant host cell” are used interchangeably. Such terms refer not only to a particular subject cell but also to the progeny or potential progeny of such a cell. Because certain modifications may occur in succeeding generations due to either mutation or environmental influences, such progeny may not, in fact, be identical to the parent cell, but are still included within the scope of the term.

[0173] Methods of eukaryotic cell transfection and prokaryotic cell transformation are well known in the art. The choice of host cell will dictate the preferred technique for introducing the nucleic acid of interest. Table E, which is not meant to be limiting, summarizes many of the known techniques in the art. Introduction of nucleic acids into an organism may also be done with ex vivo techniques that use an in vitro method of transfection, as well as established genetic techniques, if any, for that particular organism. TABLE E Methods to introduce nucleic acid into cells Cells Methods References Notes Prokaryotes Calcium (Cohen et al., 1972; (bacteria) chloride Hanahan, 1983; Mandel and Higa, 1970) Electropor- (Shigekawa and Dower, ation 1988) Eukaryotes Calcium N-(2- Cells may be Mammalian phosphate Hydroxyethyl)piperazine “shocked” with cells transfection N′-(2-ethanesulfonic acid glycerol or (HEPES) buffered saline dimethylsulfox- solution (Chen and ide (DMSO) to Okayama, 1988; Graham increase and van der Eb, 1973; transfection Wigler et al., 1978) efficiency BBS (N,N-bis(2- (Ausubel et al., hydroxyethyl)-2- 1987). aminoethanesulfonic acid) buffered solution (Ishiura et al., 1982) Diethyl- (Fujita et al., 1986; Lopata Most useful for aminoethyl et al., 1984; Selden et al., transient, but (DEAE)- 1986) not stable, Dextran transfections. transfection Chloroquine can be used to increase efficiency. Electropor- (Neumann et al., 1982; Especially ation Potter, 1988; Potter et al., useful for hard- 1984; Wong and to-transfect Neumann, 1982) lymphocytes. Cationic (Elroy-Stein Applicable to lipid reagent and Moss, both in vivo transfection 1990; Felgner et al., 1987; and in vitro Rose et al., 1991; Whitt et transfection. al., 1990) Retroviral Production exemplified by Lengthy pro- (Cepko et al., 1984; Miller cess, many and Buttimore, 1986; Pear packaging lines et al., 1993) available at Infection in vitro and in ATCC. vivo: (Austin and Cepko, Applicable to 1990; Bodine et al., 1991; both in vivo Fekete and Cepko, 1993; and in vitro Lemischka et al., 1986; transfection. Turner et al., 1990; Williams et al., 1984) Polybrene (Chaney et al., 1986; Kawai and Nishizawa, 1984) Micro- (Capecchi, 1980) Can be used to injection establish cell lines carrying integrated copies of CGI-69 DNA sequences. Protoplast (Rassoulzadegan et al., fusion 1982; Sandri-Goldin et al., 1981; Schaffner, 1980) Insect cells Baculovirus (Luckow, 1991; Miller, Useful for in (in vitro) systems 1988; O'Reilly et al., vitro produc- 1992) tion of proteins with eukaryotic modifications. Yeast Electropor- (Becker and Guarente, ation 1991) Lithium (Gietz et al., 1998; Ito et acetate al., 1983) Spheroplast (Beggs, 1978; Hinnen et Laborious, can fusion al., 1978) produce aneuploids. Plant cells Agro- (Bechtold and Pelletier, [general bacterium 1998; Escudero and Hohn, reference: trans- 1997; Hansen and Chilton, (Hansen formation 1999; Touraev and al., and Wright, 1997) 1999)] Biolistics (Finer et al., 1999; Hansen (micro- and Chilton, 1999; projectiles) Shillito, 1999) Electropor- (Fromm et al., 1985; Ou- ation Lee et al., 1986; Rhodes et (protoplasts) al., 1988; Saunders et al., 1989) May be combined with liposomes (Trick and al., 1997) Polyethylene (Shillito, 1999) glycol (PEG) treatment Liposomes May be combined with electroporation (Trick and al., 1997) in planta (Leduc and al., 1996; micro- Zhou and al., 1983) injection Seed (Trick and al., 1997) imbibition Laser beam (Hoffman, 1996) Silicon (Thompson and al., 1995) carbide whiskers

[0174] Vectors often use a selectable marker to facilitate identifying those cells that have incorporated the vector. Many selectable markers are well known in the art for the use with prokaryotes, usually antibiotic-resistance genes or the use of autotrophy and auxotrophy mutants. Table F lists often-used selectable markers for mammalian cell transfection. TABLE F Useful selectable markers for eukaryote cell transfection Selectable Marker Selection Action Reference Adenosine Media includes 9- Conversion of Xyl-A (Kaufman deaminase β-D-xylofuran- to Xyl-ATP, which et al., 1986) (ADA) osyl adenine incorporates into (Xyl-A) nucleic acids, killing cells. ADA detoxifies Dihydrofolate Methotrexate MTX competitive (Simonsen reductase (MTX) and inhibitor of DHFR. and (DHFR) dialyzed serum In absence of Levinson, (purine-free exogenous purines, 1983) media) cells require DHFR, a necessary enzyme in purine biosynthesis. Aminoglyco- G418 G418, an (Southern side phospho- aminoglycoside and Berg, transferase detoxified by APH, 1982) (“APH”, “neo”, interferes with “G418”) ribosomal function and consequently, translation. Hygromycin-B- hygromycin-B Hygromycin-B, an (Palmer et phospho- aminocyclitol al., 1987) transferase detoxified by HPH, (HPH) disrupts protein translocation and promotes mistranslation. Thymidine Forward selection Forward: (Littlefield, kinase (TK+): Media Aminopterin forces 1964) (TK) (HAT) incorpor- cells to synthesze ates aminopterin. dTTP from Reverse selection thymidine, a pathway (TK−): Media requiring TK. incorporates 5- Reverse: TK bromodeoxyur- phosphorylates idine (BrdU). BrdU, which incorporates into nucleic acids, killing cells.

[0175] A prokaryotic or eukaryotic host cell in culture can be used to produce CGI-69. Accordingly, CGI-69 provides methods for producing CGI-69 using the host cells. In one embodiment, the method comprises culturing the host cell (into which a recombinant expression vector encoding CGI-69 has been introduced) in a suitable medium, such that CGI-69 is produced. In another embodiment, the method further comprises isolating CGI-69 from the medium or the host cell.

[0176] Transgenic CGI-69 animals

[0177] Transgenic animals are useful for studying the function and/or activity of CGI-69 and for identifying and/or evaluating modulators of CGI-69 activity. “Transgenic animals” are non-human animals, preferably mammals, more preferably rodents such as rats or mice, in which one or more of the cells include a transgene. Other transgenic animals include primates, sheep, dogs, cows, goats, chickens, amphibians, etc. A “transgene” is exogenous DNA that is integrated into the genome of a cell from which a transgenic animal develops and remains in the genome of the mature animal. Transgenes preferably direct the expression of an encoded gene product in one or more cell types or tissues of the transgenic animal with the purpose of preventing expression of a naturally encoded gene product in one or more cell types or tissues (a “knockout” transgenic animal), or serving as a marker or indicator of an integration, chromosomal location, or region of recombination (e.g. cre/loxP mice). A “homologous recombinant animal” is a non-human animal, such as a rodent, in which endogenous CGI-69 has been altered by an exogenous DNA molecule that recombines homologously with endogenous CGI-69 in a (e.g. embryonic) cell prior to development the animal. Host cells with exogenous CGI-69 can be used to produce non-human transgenic animals, such as fertilized oocytes or embryonic stem cells into which CGI-69-coding sequences have been introduced. Such host cells can then be used to create non-human transgenic animals or homologous recombinant animals.

[0178] 1. Approaches to transgenic animal production

[0179] A transgenic animal can be created by introducing CGI-69 into the male pronuclei of a fertilized oocyte (e.g., by microinjection, retroviral infection) and allowing the oocyte to develop in a pseudopregnant female foster animal (pffa). The CGI-69 cDNA sequences (SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2) can be introduced as a transgene into the genome of a non-human animal. Alternatively, a homologue of CGI-69, such as the naturally-occuring variant of CGI-69, can be used as a transgene. Intronic sequences and polyadenylation signals can also be included in the transgene to increase transgene expression. Tissue-specific regulatory sequences can be operably-linked to the CGI-69 transgene to direct expression of CGI-69 to particular cells. Methods for generating transgenic animals via embryo manipulation and microinjection, particularly animals such as mice, have become conventional in the art, e.g. (Evans et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,009, 1989; Hogan, 0879693843, 1994; Leder and Stewart, U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,866, 1988; Wagner and Hoppe, U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,191, 1989). Other non-mice transgenic animals may be made by similar methods. A transgenic founder animal, which can be used to breed additional transgenic animals, can be identified based upon the presence of the transgene in its genome and/or expression of the transgene mRNA in tissues or cells of the animals. Transgenic (e.g. CGI-69) animals can be bred to other transgenic animals carrying other transgenes.

[0180] A CGI-69 transgenic animal that is heterozyhous for the transgene may be bred with another heterozyhous CGI-69 transgenic animal to produce animals that are homozygous for the transgene. In certain instances, such homozygous transgenic animals may display different characteristics than the heterozygous parents. Thus, in situations where the heterozygous transgenic animal lacks a particular phenotype, such animals may still have substantial utility as sources of the homozyhous transgenic animals displaying a particular characteristic.

[0181] 2. Vectors for transgenic animal production

[0182] To create a homologous recombinant animal, a vector containing at least a portion of CGI-69 into which a deletion, addition or substitution has been introduced to thereby alter, e.g., functionally disrupt, CGI-69. CGI-69 can be a murine gene, or other CGI-69 homologue, such as the human homolog (SEQ ID NOS:1 or 2). In one approach, a knockout vector functionally disrupts the endogenous CGI-69 gene upon homologous recombination, and thus a non-functional CGI-69 protein, if any, is expressed.

[0183] Alternatively, the vector can be designed such that, upon homologous recombination, the endogenous CGI-69 is mutated or otherwise altered but still encodes functional protein (e.g., the upstream regulatory region can be altered to thereby alter the expression of endogenous CGI-69). In this type of homologous recombination vector, the altered portion of the CGI-69 is flanked at its 5′- and 3′-termini by additional nucleic acid of the CGI-69 to allow for homologous recombination to occur between the exogenous CGI-69 carried by the vector and an endogenous CGI-69 in an embryonic stem cell. The additional flanking CGI-69 nucleic acid is sufficient to engender homologous recombination with endogenous CGI-69. Typically, several kilobases of flanking DNA (both at the 5′- and 3′-termini) are included in the vector (Thomas and Capecchi, 1987). The vector is then introduced into an embryonic stem cell line (e.g., by electroporation), and cells in which the introduced CGI-69 has homologously-recombined with the endogenous CGI-69 are selected (Li et al., 1992).

[0184] 3. Introduction of CGI-69 transgene cells during development

[0185] Selected cells are then injected into a blastocyst of an animal (e.g., a mouse) to form aggregation chimeras (Bradley, 1987). A chimeric embryo can then be implanted into a suitable pffa and the embryo brought to term. Progeny harboring the homologously-recombined DNA in their germ cells can be used to breed animals in which all cells of the animal contain the homologously-recombined DNA by germline transmission of the transgene. Methods for constructing homologous recombination vectors and homologous recombinant animals are described (Berns et al., WO 93/04169, 1993; Bradley, 1991; Kucherlapati et al., WO 91/01140, 1991; Le Mouellic and Brullet, WO 90/11354, 1990).

[0186] Alternatively, transgenic animals that contain selected systems that allow for regulated expression of the transgene can be produced. An example of such a system is the cre/loxP recombinase system of bacteriophage P1 (Lakso et al., 1992). Another recombinase system is the FLP recombinase system of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (O'Gorman et al., 1991). If a cre/loxP recombinase system is used to regulate expression of the transgene, animals containing transgenes encoding both the Cre recombinase and a selected protein are required. Such animals can be produced as “double” transgenic animals, by mating an animal containing a transgene encoding a selected protein to another containing a transgene encoding a recombinase.

[0187] Clones of transgenic animals can also be produced (Wilmut et al., 1997). In brief, a cell from a transgenic animal can be isolated and induced to exit the growth cycle and enter G₀ phase. The quiescent cell can then be fused to an enucleated oocyte from an animal of the same species from which the quiescent cell is isolated. The reconstructed oocyte is then cultured to develop to a morula or blastocyte and then transferred to a pffa. The offspring borne of this female foster animal will be a clone of the “parent” transgenic animal.

[0188] Pharmaceutical compositions

[0189] Agonists or antagonists of CGI-69 can be incorporated into pharmaceutical compositions. Such compositions typically comprise the agonists or antagonists and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” includes any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like, compatible with pharmaceutical administration (Gennaro, 2000). Preferred examples of such carriers or diluents include, but are not limited to, water, saline, Finger's solutions, dextrose solution, and 5% human serum albumin. Liposomes and non-aqueous vehicles such as fixed oils may also be used. Except when a conventional media or agent is incompatible with an active compound, use of these compositions is contemplated. Supplementary active compounds can also be incorporated into the compositions.

[0190] 1. General considerations

[0191] A pharmaceutical composition of the agonist or antagonist is formulated to be compatible with its intended route of administration, including intravenous, intradermal, subcutaneous, oral (e.g., inhalation), transdermal (i.e., topical), transmucosal, and rectal administration. Solutions or suspensions used for parenteral, intradermal, or subcutaneous application can include: a sterile diluent such as water for injection, saline solution, fixed oils, polyethylene glycols, glycerine, propylene glycol or other synthetic solvents; antibacterial agents such as benzyl alcohol or methyl parabens; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or sodium bisulfite; chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); buffers such as acetates, citrates or phosphates, and agents for the adjustment of tonicity such as sodium chloride or dextrose. The pH can be adjusted with acids or bases, such as hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide. The parenteral preparation can be enclosed in ampules, disposable syringes or multiple dose vials made of glass or plastic.

[0192] 2. Injectable formulations

[0193] Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for injection include sterile aqueous solutions (where water soluble) or dispersions and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions or dispersion. For intravenous administration, suitable carriers include physiological saline, bacteriostatic water, CREMOPHOR EL™ (BASF, Parsippany, N.J.) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS). In all cases, the composition must be sterile and should be fluid so as to be administered using a syringe. Such compositions should be stable during manufacture and storage and must be preserved against contamination from microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. The carrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example, water, ethanol, polyol (such as glycerol, propylene glycol, and liquid polyethylene glycol), and suitable mixtures. Proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by using a coating such as lecithin, by maintaining the required particle size in the case of dispersion and by using surfactants. Various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, ascorbic acid, and thimerosal, can contain microorganism contamination. Isotonic agents, for example, sugars, polyalcohols such as manitol, sorbitol, and sodium chloride can be included in the composition. Compositions that can delay absorption include agents such as aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

[0194] Sterile injectable solutions can be prepared by incorporating the active compound in the required amount in an appropriate solvent with one or a combination of ingredients as required, followed by sterilization. Generally, dispersions are prepared by incorporating the active compound into a sterile vehicle that contains a basic dispersion medium, and the other required ingredients. Sterile powders for the preparation of sterile injectable solutions, methods of preparation include vacuum drying and freeze-drying that yield a powder containing the active ingredient and any desired ingredient from a sterile solutions.

[0195] 3. Oral compositions

[0196] Oral compositions generally include an inert diluent or an edible carrier. They can be enclosed in gelatin capsules or compressed into tablets. For the purpose of oral therapeutic administration, the active compound can be incorporated with excipients and used in the form of tablets, troches, or capsules. Oral compositions can also be prepared using a fluid carrier for use as a mouthwash, wherein the compound in the fluid carrier is applied orally. Pharmaceutically compatible binding agents, and/or adjuvant materials can be included. Tablets, pills, capsules, troches and the like can contain any of the following ingredients, or compounds of a similar nature: a binder such as microcrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin; an excipient such as starch or lactose, a disintegrating agent such as alginic acid, PRIMOGEL, or corn starch; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate or STEROTES; a glidant such as colloidal silicon dioxide; a sweetening agent such as sucrose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent such as peppermint, methyl salicylate, or orange flavoring.

[0197] 4. Compositions for inhalation

[0198] For administration by inhalation, the compounds are delivered as an aerosol spray from a nebulizer or a pressurized container that contains a suitable propellant, e.g., a gas such as carbon dioxide.

[0199] 5. Systemic administration

[0200] Systemic administration can also be transmucosal or transdermal. For transmucosal or transdermal administration, penetrants that can permeate the target barrier(s) are selected. Transmucosal penetrants include, detergents, bile salts, and fusidic acid derivatives. Nasal sprays or suppositories can be used for transmucosal administration. For transdermal administration, the active compounds are formulated into ointments, salves, gels, or creams.

[0201] The compounds can also be prepared in the form of suppositories (e.g., with bases such as cocoa butter and other glycerides) or retention enemas for rectal delivery.

[0202] 6. Carriers

[0203] In one embodiment, the active compounds are prepared with carriers that protect the compound against rapid elimination from the body, such as a controlled release formulation, including implants and microencapsulated delivery systems. Biodegradable or biocompatible polymers can be used, such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polyanhydrides, polyglycolic acid, collagen, polyorthoesters, and polylactic acid. Such materials can be obtained commercially from ALZA Corporation (Mountain View, Calif.) and NOVA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Lake Elsinore, Calif.), or prepared by one of skill in the art. Liposomal suspensions can also be used as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. These can be prepared according to methods known to those skilled in the art, such as in (Eppstein et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,811, 1985).

[0204] 7. Unit dosage

[0205] Oral formulations or parenteral compositions in unit dosage form can be created to facilitate administration and dosage uniformity. Unit dosage form refers to physically discrete units suited as single dosages for the subject to be treated, containing a therapeutically effective quantity of active compound in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier. The specification for the unit dosage forms of the invention are dictated by, and directly dependent on, the unique characteristics of the active compound and the particular desired therapeutic effect, and the inherent limitations of compounding the active compound.

[0206] 8. Gene therapy compositions

[0207] The nucleic acid molecules of CGI-69 can be inserted into vectors and used as gene therapy vectors. Gene therapy vectors can be delivered to a subject by, for example, intravenous injection, local administration (Nabel and Nabel, U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,470, 1994), or by stereotactic injection (Chen et al., 1994). The pharmaceutical preparation of a gene therapy vector can include an acceptable diluent, or can comprise a slow release matrix in which the gene delivery vehicle is imbedded. Alternatively, where the complete gene delivery vector can be produced intact from recombinant cells, e.g., retroviral vectors, the pharmaceutical preparation can include one or more cells that produce the gene delivery system.

[0208] 9. Dosage

[0209] The pharmaceutical composition may further comprise other therapeutically active compounds as noted herein which are usually applied in the treatment of CGI-69 -related conditions.

[0210] In the treatment or prevention of conditions which require CGI-69 modulation an appropriate dosage level of an agonist or antagonist will generally be about 0.01 to 500 mg per kg patient body weight per day which can be administered in single or multiple doses. Preferably, the dosage level will be about 0.1 to about 250 mg/kg per day; more preferably about 0.5 to about 100 mg/kg per day. A suitable dosage level may be about 0.01 to 250 mg/kg per day, about 0.05 to 100 mg/kg per day, or about 0.1 to 50 mg/kg per day. Within this range the dosage may be 0.05 to 0.5, 0.5 to 5 or 5 to 50 mg/kg per day. For oral administration, the compositions are preferably provided in the form of tablets containing 1.0 to 1000 milligrams of the active ingredient, particularly 1.0, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0. 20.0, 25.0, 50.0, 75.0, 100.0, 150.0, 200.0, 250.0, 300.0, 400.0, 500.0, 600.0, 750.0, 800.0, 900.0, and 1000.0 milligrams of the active ingredient for the symptomatic adjustment of the dosage to the patient to be treated. The compounds may be administered on a regimen of 1 to 4 times per day, preferably once or twice per day.

[0211] However, the specific dose level and frequency of dosage for any particular patient may be varied and will depend upon a variety of factors including the activity of the specific compound employed, the metabolic stability and length of action of that compound, the age, body weight, general health, sex, diet, mode and time of administration, rate of excretion, drug combination, the severity of the particular condition, and the host undergoing therapy.

[0212] 10. Kits for pharmaceutical compositions

[0213] The pharmaceutical compositions can be included in a kit, container, pack, or dispenser together with instructions for administration to treat a metabolic disorder or disease. When the invention is supplied as a kit, the different components of the composition may be packaged in separate containers and admixed immediately before use. Such packaging of the components separately may permit long-term storage without losing the active components' functions.

[0214] Kits may also include reagents in separate containers that facilitate the execution of a specific test, such as diagnostic tests or tissue typing. For example, CGI-69 DNA templates and suitable primers may be supplied for internal controls.

[0215] (a) Containers or vessels

[0216] The reagents included in kits can be supplied in containers of any sort such that the life of the different components are preserved, and are not adsorbed or altered by the materials of the container. For example, sealed glass ampules may contain lyophilized CGI-69 or buffer that have been packaged under a neutral, non-reacting gas, such as nitrogen. Ampules may consist of any suitable material, such as glass, organic polymers, such as polycarbonate, polystyrene, etc., ceramic, metal or any other material typically employed to hold reagents. Other examples of suitable containers include simple bottles that may be fabricated from similar substances as ampules, and envelopes, that may consist of foil-lined interiors, such as aluminum or an alloy. Other containers include test tubes, vials, flasks, bottles, syringes, or the like. Containers may have a sterile access port, such as a bottle having a stopper that can be pierced by a hypodermic injection needle. Other containers may have two compartments that are separated by a readily removable membrane that upon removal permits the components to mix. Removable membranes may be glass, plastic, rubber, etc.

[0217] (b) Instructional materials

[0218] Kits may also be supplied with instructional materials. Instructions may be printed on paper or other substrate, and/or may be supplied as an electronic-readable medium, such as a floppy disc, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Zip disc, videotape, laserdisc, audio tape, etc. Detailed instructions may not be physically associated with the kit; instead, a user may be directed to an internet web site specified by the manufacturer or distributor of the kit, or supplied as electronic mail.

[0219] Screening and detection methods

[0220] The isolated nucleic acid molecules of CGI-69 can be used to express CGI-69 (e.g., via a recombinant expression vector in a host cell in gene therapy applications), to detect CGI-69 mRNA (e.g., in a biological sample) or a genetic lesion in a CGI-69, and to modulate CGI-69 activity, as described below. In addition, CGI-69 polypeptides can be used to screen drugs or compounds that modulate the CGI-69 activity or expression as well as to treat disorders characterized by insufficient or excessive production of CGI-69 or production of CGI-69 forms that have decreased or aberrant activity compared to CGI-69 wild-type protein, or modulate biological function that involve CGI-69. These reagents may be provided in the form of a kit as described above for pharmaceutical administrations optionally including instructions for assaying or screening CGI-69 involvment in a metabolic disease or disorder.

[0221] 1. Screening assays

[0222] The invention provides a method (screening assay) for identifying modalities, i.e., candidate or test compounds or agents (e.g., peptides, peptidomimetics, small molecules or other drugs), foods, combinations thereof, etc., that effect CGI-69, a stimulatory or inhibitory effect, including translation, transcription, activity or copies of the gene in cells. The invention also includes compounds identified in screening assays.

[0223] Testing for compounds that increase or decrease CGI-69 activity are desirable. A compound may modulate CGI-69 activity by affecting: (1) the number of copies of the gene in the cell (amplifiers and deamplifiers); (2) increasing or decreasing transcription of the CGI-69 (transcription up-regulators and down-regulators); (3) by increasing or decreasing the translation of CGI-69 mRNA into protein (translation up-regulators and down-regulators); or (4) by increasing or decreasing the activity of CGI-69 itself (agonists and antagonists).

[0224] (a) effects of compounds

[0225] To identify compounds that affect CGI-69 at the DNA, RNA and protein levels, cells or organisms are contacted with a candidate compound and the corresponding change in CGI-69 DNA, RNA or protein is assessed (Ausubel et al., 1987). For DNA amplifiers and deamplifiers, the amount of CGI-69 DNA is measured, for those compounds that are transcription up-regulators and down-regulators, the amount of CGI-69 mRNA is determined; for translational up- and down-regulators, the amount of CGI-69 polypeptides is measured. Compounds that are agonists or antagonists may be identified by contacting cells or organisms with the compound.

[0226] Many assays for screening candidate or test compounds that bind to or modulate the activity of CGI-69 or polypeptide or biologically active portion are available. Test compounds can be obtained using any of the numerous approaches in combinatorial library methods, including: biological libraries; spatially addressable parallel solid phase or solution phase libraries; synthetic library methods requiring deconvolution; the “one-bead one-compound” library method; and synthetic library methods using affinity chromatography selection. The biological library approach is limited to peptides, while the other four approaches encompass peptide, non-peptide oligomer or small molecule libraries of compounds (Lam, 1997).

[0227] (b) small molecules

[0228] A “small molecule” refers to a composition that has a molecular weight of less than about 5 kD and more preferably less than about 4 kD, and most preferably less than 0.6 kD. Small molecules can be, nucleic acids, peptides, polypeptides, peptidomimetics, carbohydrates, lipids or other organic or inorganic molecules. Libraries of chemical and/or biological mixtures, such as fungal, bacterial, or algal extracts, are known in the art and can be screened with any of the assays of the invention. Examples of methods for the synthesis of molecular libraries have been described (Carell et al., 1994a; Carell et al., 1994b; Cho et al., 1993; DeWitt et al., 1993; Gallop et al., 1994; Zuckermann et al., 1994).

[0229] Libraries of compounds may be presented in solution (Houghten et al., 1992) or on beads (Lam et al., 1991), on chips (Fodor et al., 1993), bacteria, spores (Ladner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409, 1993), plasmids (Cull et al., 1992) or on phage (Cwirla et al., 1990; Devlin et al., 1990; Felici et al., 1991; Ladner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409, 1993; Scott and Smith, 1990). A cell-free assay comprises contacting CGI-69 or biologically-active fragment with a known compound that binds CGI-69 to form an assay mixture, contacting the assay mixture with a test compound, and determining the ability of the test compound to interact with CGI-69, where determining the ability of the test compound to interact with CGI-69 comprises determining the ability of the CGI-69 to preferentially bind to or modulate the activity of an CGI-69 target molecule.

[0230] (c) cell-free assays

[0231] The cell-free assays of the invention may be used with the membrane-bound forms of CGI-69. Cell-free assays comprising the membrane-bound form, a solubilizing agent may be used to maintain CGI-69 in solution. Examples of such solubilizing agents include non-ionic detergents such as n-octylglucoside, n-dodecylglucoside, n-dodecylmaltoside, octanoyl-N-methylglucamide, decanoyl-N-methylglucamide, polyoxyethylene ethers (e.g., t-Octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (TRITON® X-100) and others from the TRITON® series), polyoxyethylene 9 lauryl ether (THESIT®), Isotridecypoly(ethylene glycol ether)_(n), N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propane sulfonate, 3-(3-cholamidopropyl) dimethylamminiol-1-propane sulfonate (CHAPS), or 3-(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylamminiol-2-hydroxy-1-propane sulfonate (CHAPSO).

[0232] (d) immobilization of target molecules to facilitate screening

[0233] In more than one embodiment of the assay methods, immobilizing either CGI-69 or its partner molecules can facilitate separation of complexed from uncomplexed forms of one or both of the proteins, as well as to accommodate high throughput assays. Binding of a test compound to CGI-69, or interaction of CGI-69 with a target molecule in the presence and absence of a candidate compound, can be accomplished in any vessel suitable for containing the reactants, such as microtiter plates, test tubes, and micro-centrifuge tubes. A fusion protein can be provided that adds a domain that allows one or both of the proteins to be bound to a matrix. For example, GST (glutathione S-transferase)-CGI-69 fusion proteins or GST-target fusion proteins can be adsorbed onto glutathione sepharose beads (SIGMA Chemical, St. Louis, Mo.) or glutathione derivatized microtiter plates that are then combined with the test compound or the test compound and either the non-adsorbed target protein or CGI-69, and the mixture is incubated under conditions conducive to complex formation (e.g., at physiological conditions for salt and pH). Following incubation, the beads or microtiter plate wells are washed to remove any unbound components, the matrix immobilized in the case of beads, complex determined either directly or indirectly. Alternatively, the complexes can be dissociated from the matrix, and the level of CGI-69 binding or activity determined using standard techniques.

[0234] Other techniques for immobilizing proteins on matrices can also be used in screening assays. Either CGI-69 or its target molecule can be immobilized using biotin-avidin or biotin-streptavidin systems. Biotinylation can be accomplished using many reagents, such as biotin-NHS (N-hydroxy-succinimide; PIERCE Chemicals, Rockford, Ill.), and immobilized in wells of streptavidin-coated 96 well plates (PIERCE Chemical). Alternatively, Abs reactive with CGI-69 or target molecules but do not interfere with binding of the CGI-69 to its target molecule can be derivatized to the wells of the plate, and unbound target or CGI-69 trapped in the wells by antibody conjugation. Methods for detecting such complexes, in addition to those described for the GST-immobilized complexes, include immunodetection of complexes using Abs reactive with CGI-69 or its target, as well as enzyme-linked assays that rely on detecting an enzymatic activity associated with the CGI-69 or target molecule.

[0235] (e) screens to identify modulators

[0236] Modulators of CGI-69 expression can be identified in a method where a cell is contacted with a candidate compound and the expression of CGI-69 mRNA or protein in the cell is determined. The expression level of CGI-69 mRNA or protein in the presence of the candidate compound is compared to CGI-69 mRNA or protein levels in the absence of the candidate compound. The candidate compound can then be identified as a modulator of CGI-69 mRNA or protein expression based upon this comparison. For example, when expression of CGI-69 mRNA or protein is greater (i.e., statistically significant) in the presence of the candidate compound than in its absence, the candidate compound is identified as a stimulator of CGI-69 mRNA or protein expression. Alternatively, when expression of CGI-69 mRNA or protein is less (statistically significant) in the presence of the candidate compound than in its absence, the candidate compound is identified as an inhibitor of CGI-69 mRNA or protein expression. The level of CGI-69 mRNA or protein expression in the cells can be determined by methods described for detecting CGI-69 mRNA or protein.

[0237] (f) hybrid assays

[0238] In yet another aspect of the invention, CGI-69 can be used as “bait” in two-hybrid or three hybrid assays (Bartel et al., 1993; Brent et al., WO94/10300, 1994; Iwabuchi et al., 1993; Madura et al., 1993; Saifer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,317, 1994; Zervos et al., 1993) to identify other proteins that bind or interact with CGI-69 and modulate CGI-69 activity. Such CGI-69-interacting partner proteins are also likely to be involved in the propagation of signals by the CGI-69 as, for example, upstream or downstream elements of a CGI-69 pathway.

[0239] The two-hybrid system is based on the modular nature of most transcription factors, which consists of separable DNA-binding and activation domains. The assay utilizes two different DNA constructs. In one construct, the gene that codes for CGI-69 is fused to a gene encoding the DNA binding domain of a known transcription factor (e.g., GAL4). The other construct, a DNA sequence from a library of DNA sequences that encodes an unidentified protein (“prey” or “sample”) is fused to a gene that codes for the activation domain of the known transcription factor. If the “bait” and the “prey” proteins are able to interact in vivo, forming a CGI-69 -dependent complex, the DNA-binding and activation domains of the transcription factor are brought into close proximity. This proximity allows transcription of a reporter gene (e.g., LacZ) that is operably-linked to a transcriptional regulatory site responsive to the transcription factor. Expression of the reporter gene can be detected, and cell colonies containing the functional transcription factor can be isolated and used to obtain the cloned gene that encodes the CGI-69 -interacting protein. The invention further pertains to novel agents identified by the aforementioned screening assays and uses thereof for treatments as described herein.

[0240] Predictive medicine

[0241] The invention also pertains to the field of predictive medicine in which diagnostic assays, prognostic assays, pharmacogenomics, and monitoring clinical trials are used for prognostic (predictive) purposes to treat an individual prophylactically. Accordingly, one aspect of the invention relates to diagnostic assays for determining CGI-69 and/or nucleic acid expression as well as CGI-69 activity, in the context of a biological sample (e.g., blood, serum, cells, tissue) to determine whether an individual is afflicted with a disease or disorder, or is at risk of developing a disorder, associated with aberrant CGI-69 expression or activity, including cancer. The invention also provides for prognostic (or predictive) assays for determining whether an individual is at risk of developing a disorder associated with CGI-69, nucleic acid expression or activity. For example, mutations in CGI-69 can be assayed in a biological sample. Such assays can be used for prognostic or predictive purpose to prophylactically treat an individual prior to the onset of a disorder characterized by or associated with CGI-69 nucleic acid expression, or biological activity.

[0242] Another aspect of the invention provides methods for determining CGI-69 activity, or nucleic acid expression, in an individual to select appropriate therapeutic or prophylactic agents for that individual (referred to herein as “pharmacogenomics”). Pharmacogenomics allows for the selection of modalities (e.g., drugs, foods) for therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of an individual based on the individual's genotype (e.g., the individual's genotype to determine the individual's ability to respond to a particular agent). Another aspect of the invention pertains to monitoring the influence of modalities (e.g., drugs, foods) on the expression or activity of CGI-69 in clinical trials.

[0243] 1. Diagnostic assays

[0244] An exemplary method for detecting the presence or absence of CGI-69 in a biological sample involves obtaining a biological sample from a subject and contacting the biological sample with a compound or an agent capable of detecting CGI-69 or CGI-69 (e.g., mRNA, genomic DNA) such that the presence of CGI-69 is confirmed in the sample. An agent for detecting CGI-69 mRNA or genomic DNA is a labeled nucleic acid probe that can hybridize to CGI-69 mRNA or genomic DNA. The nucleic acid probe can be, for example, a full-length CGI-69 nucleic acid, such as the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NOS:1 or 2, or a portion thereof, such as an oligonucleotide of at least 15, 30, 50, 100, 250 or 500 nucleotides in length and sufficient to specifically hybridize under stringent conditions to CGI-69 mRNA or genomic DNA.

[0245] The term “biological sample” includes tissues, cells and biological fluids isolated from a subject, as well as tissues, cells and fluids present within a subject. The detection method of the invention can be used to detect CGI-69 mRNA, protein, or genomic DNA in a biological sample in vitro as well as in vivo. For example, in vitro techniques for detection of CGI-69 mRNA include Northern hybridizations and in situ hybridizations. In vitro techniques for detection of CGI-69 polypeptide include enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), Western blots, immunoprecipitations, and immunofluorescence. In vitro techniques for detection of CGI-69 genomic DNA include Southern hybridizations and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH).

[0246] In one embodiment, the biological sample from the subject contains protein molecules, and/or mRNA molecules, and/or genomic DNA molecules. Preferred biological samples are blood and adipose tissue.

[0247] In another embodiment, the methods further involve obtaining a biological sample from a subject to provide a control, contacting the sample with a compound or agent to detect CGI-69, CGI-69 mRNA, or genomic DNA, and comparing the presence of CGI-69, CGI-69 mRNA or genomic DNA in the control sample with the presence of CGI-69, CGI-69 mRNA or genomic DNA in the test sample.

[0248] The invention also encompasses kits for detecting CGI-69 in a biological sample. For example, the kit can comprise: a labeled compound or agent capable of detecting CGI-69 or CGI-69 mRNA in a sample; reagent and/or equipment for determining the amount of CGI-69 in the sample; and reagent and/or equipment for comparing the amount of CGI-69 in the sample with a standard. The compound or agent can be packaged in a suitable container. The kit can further comprise instructions for using the kit to detect CGI-69 or nucleic acid.

[0249] 2. Prognostic assays

[0250] The diagnostic methods described herein can furthermore be utilized to identify subjects having or at risk of developing a disease or disorder associated with aberrant CGI-69 expression or activity. For example, the described assays can be used to identify a subject having or at risk of developing a disorder associated with CGI-69, nucleic acid expression or activity. Alternatively, the prognostic assays can be used to identify a subject having or at risk for developing a disease or disorder. The invention provides a method for identifying a disease or disorder associated with aberrant CGI-69 expression or activity in which a test sample is obtained from a subject and CGI-69 or nucleic acid (e.g., mRNA, genomic DNA) is detected. A test sample is a biological sample obtained from a subject. For example, a test sample can be a biological fluid (e.g., serum), cell sample, or tissue.

[0251] Prognostic assays can be used to determine whether a subject can be administered a modality (e.g., an agonist, antagonist, peptidomimetic, protein, peptide, nucleic acid, small molecule, food, etc.) to treat a disease or disorder associated with aberrant CGI-69 expression or activity. Such methods can be used to determine whether a subject can be effectively treated with an agent for a disorder. The invention provides methods for determining whether a subject can be effectively treated with an agent for a disorder associated with aberrant CGI-69 expression or activity in which a test sample is obtained and CGI-69 or nucleic acid is detected (e.g., where the presence of CGI-69 or nucleic acid is diagnostic for a subject that can be administered the agent to treat a disorder associated with aberrant CGI-69 expression or activity).

[0252] The methods of the invention can also be used to detect genetic lesions in a CGI-69 to determine if a subject with the genetic lesion is at risk for a disorder. Methods include detecting, in a sample from the subject, the presence or absence of a genetic lesion characterized by at an alteration affecting the integrity of a gene encoding a CGI-69 polypeptide, or the mis-expression of CGI-69. Such genetic lesions can be detected by ascertaining: (1) a deletion of one or more nucleotides from CGI-69; (2) an addition of one or more nucleotides to CGI-69; (3) a substitution of one or more nucleotides in CGI-69, (4) a chromosomal rearrangement of an CGI-69 gene; (5) an alteration in the level of an CGI-69 mRNA transcripts, (6) aberrant modification of an CGI-69, such as a change genomic DNA methylation, (7) the presence of a non-wild-type splicing pattern of an CGI-69 mRNA transcript, (8) a non-wild-type level of CGI-69, (9) allelic loss of CGI-69, and/or (10) inappropriate post-translational modification of CGI-69 polypeptide. There are a large number of known assay techniques that can be used to detect lesions in CGI-69. Any biological sample containing nucleated cells may be used.

[0253] In certain embodiments, lesion detection may use a probe/primer in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (e.g., (Mullis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202, 1987; Mullis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,195, 1987), such as anchor PCR or rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) PCR, or, alternatively, in a ligation chain reaction (LCR) (e.g., (Landegren et al., 1988; Nakazawa et al., 1994), the latter is particularly useful for detecting point mutations in CGI-69-genes (Abravaya et al., 1995). This method may include collecting a sample from a patient, isolating nucleic acids from the sample, contacting the nucleic acids with one or more primers that specifically hybridize to CGI-69 under conditions such that hybridization and amplification of the CGI-69 (if present) occurs, and detecting the presence or absence of an amplification product, or detecting the size of the amplification product and comparing the length to a control sample. It is anticipated that PCR and/or LCR may be desirable to use as a preliminary amplification step in conjunction with any of the techniques used for detecting mutations described herein.

[0254] Alternative amplification methods include: self sustained sequence replication (Guatelli et al., 1990), transcriptional amplification system (Kwoh et al., 1989); Qβ Replicase (Lizardi et al., 1988), or any other nucleic acid amplification method, followed by the detection of the amplified molecules using techniques well known to those of skill in the art. These detection schemes are especially useful for the detection of nucleic acid molecules present in low abundance.

[0255] Mutations in CGI-69 from a sample can be identified by alterations in restriction enzyme cleavage patterns. For example, sample and control DNA is isolated, amplified (optionally), digested with one or more restriction endonucleases, and fragment length sizes are determined by gel electrophoresis and compared. Differences in fragment length sizes between sample and control DNA indicates mutations in the sample DNA. Moreover, the use of sequence specific ribozymes can be used to score for the presence of specific mutations by development or loss of a ribozyme cleavage site.

[0256] Hybridizing a sample and control nucleic acids, e.g., DNA or RNA, to high-density arrays containing hundreds or thousands of oligonucleotides probes, can identify genetic mutations in CGI-69 (Cronin et al., 1996; Kozal et al., 1996). For example, genetic mutations in CGI-69 can be identified in two-dimensional arrays containing light-generated DNA probes as described (Cronin et al., 1996). Briefly, a first hybridization array of probes can be used to scan through long stretches of DNA in a sample and control to identify base changes between the sequences by making linear arrays of sequential overlapping probes. This step allows the identification of point mutations. This is followed by a second hybridization array that allows the characterization of specific mutations by using smaller, specialized probe arrays complementary to all variants or mutations detected. Each mutation array is composed of parallel probe sets, one complementary to the wild-type gene and the other complementary to the mutant gene.

[0257] In yet another embodiment, any of a variety of sequencing reactions known in the art can be used to directly sequence the CGI-69 and detect mutations by comparing the sequence of the sample CGI-69 with the corresponding wild-type (control) sequence. Examples of sequencing reactions include those based on classic techniques (Maxam and Gilbert, 1977; Sanger et al., 1977). Any of a variety of automated sequencing procedures can be used when performing diagnostic assays (Naeve et al., 1995) including sequencing by mass spectrometry (Cohen et al., 1996; Griffin and Griffin, 1993; Koster, WO94/16101, 1994).

[0258] Other methods for detecting mutations in the CGI-69 include those in which protection from cleavage agents is used to detect mismatched bases in RNA/RNA or RNA/DNA heteroduplexes (Myers et al., 1985). In general, the technique of “mismatch cleavage” starts by providing heteroduplexes formed by hybridizing (labeled) RNA or DNA containing the wild-type CGI-69 sequence with potentially mutant RNA or DNA obtained from a sample. The double-stranded duplexes are treated with an agent that cleaves single-stranded regions of the duplex such as those that arise from base pair mismatches between the control and sample strands. For instance, RNA/DNA duplexes can be treated with RNase and DNA/DNA hybrids treated with S₁ nuclease to enzymatically digest the mismatched regions. In other embodiments, either DNA/DNA or RNA/DNA duplexes can be treated with hydroxylamine or osmium tetroxide and with piperidine in order to digest mismatched regions. The digested material is then separated by size on denaturing polyacrylamide gels to determine the mutation site (Grompe et al., 1989; Saleeba and Cotton, 1993). The control DNA or RNA can be labeled for detection.

[0259] Mismatch cleavage reactions may employ one or more proteins that recognize mismatched base pairs in double-stranded DNA (DNA mismatch repair) in defined systems for detecting and mapping point mutations in CGI-69 cDNAs obtained from samples of cells. For example, the mutY enzyme of E. coli cleaves A at G/A mismatches and the thymidine DNA glycosylase from HeLa cells cleaves T at G/T mismatches (Hsu et al., 1994). According to an exemplary embodiment, a probe based on a wild-type CGI-69 sequence is hybridized to a cDNA or other DNA product from a test cell(s). The duplex is treated with a DNA mismatch repair enzyme, and the cleavage products, if any, can be detected from electrophoresis protocols or the like (Modrich et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,039, 1995).

[0260] Electrophoretic mobility alterations can be used to identify mutations in CGI-69. For example, single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) may be used to detect differences in electrophoretic mobility between mutant and wild type nucleic acids (Cotton, 1993; Hayashi, 1992; Orita et al., 1989). Single-stranded DNA fragments of sample and control CGI-69 nucleic acids are denatured and then renatured. The secondary structure of single-stranded nucleic acids varies according to sequence; the resulting alteration in electrophoretic mobility allows detection of even a single base change. The DNA fragments may be labeled or detected with labeled probes. The sensitivity of the assay may be enhanced by using RNA (rather than DNA), in which the secondary structure is more sensitive to a sequence changes. The method may use heteroduplex analysis to separate double stranded heteroduplex molecules on the basis of changes in electrophoretic mobility (Keen et al., 1991).

[0261] The migration of mutant or wild-type fragments can be assayed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE; (Myers et al., 1985). In DGGE, DNA is modified to prevent complete denaturation, for example by adding a GC clamp of approximately 40 bp of high-melting GC-rich DNA by PCR. A temperature gradient may also be used in place of a denaturing gradient to identify differences in the mobility of control and sample DNA (Rossiter and Caskey, 1990).

[0262] Examples of other techniques for detecting point mutations include, but are not limited to, selective oligonucleotide hybridization, selective amplification, or selective primer extension. For example, oligonucleotide primers may be prepared in which the known mutation is placed centrally and then hybridized to target DNA under conditions that permit hybridization only if a perfect match is found (Saiki et al., 1986; Saiki et al., 1989). Such allele-specific oligonucleotides are hybridized to PCR-amplified target DNA or a number of different mutations when the oligonucleotides are attached to the hybridizing membrane and hybridized with labeled target DNA.

[0263] Alternatively, allele specific amplification technology that depends on selective PCR amplification may be used. Oligonucleotide primers for specific amplifications may carry the mutation of interest in the center of the molecule (so that amplification depends on differential hybridization (Gibbs et al., 1989)) or at the extreme 3′-terminus of one primer where, under appropriate conditions, mismatch can prevent, or reduce polymerase extension (Prosser, 1993). Novel restriction site in the region of the mutation may be introduced to create cleavage-based detection (Gasparini et al., 1992). Certain amplification may also be performed using Taq ligase for amplification (Barany, 1991). In such cases, ligation occurs only if there is a perfect match at the 3′-terminus of the 5′ sequence, allowing detection of a known mutation by scoring for amplification.

[0264] The described methods may be performed, for example, by using pre-packaged kits comprising at least one probe (nucleic acid or antibody) that may be conveniently used, for example, in clinical settings to diagnose patients exhibiting symptoms or family history of a disease or illness involving CGI-69.

[0265] Furthermore, any cell type or tissue in which CGI-69 is expressed may be utilized in the prognostic assays described herein.

[0266] 3. Pharmacogenomics

[0267] Agents, or modulators that have a stimulatory or inhibitory effect on CGI-69 activity or expression, as identified by a screening assay, can be administered to individuals to treat prophylactically or therapeutically disorders. In conjunction with such treatment, the pharmacogenomics (i.e., the study of the relationship between a subject's genotype and the subject's response to a foreign modality, such as a food, compound or drug) may be considered. Metabolic differences of therapeutics can lead to severe toxicity or therapeutic failure by altering the relation between dose and blood concentration of the pharmacologically active drug. Thus, the pharmacogenomics of the individual permits the selection of effective agents (e.g., drugs) for prophylactic or therapeutic treatments based on a consideration of the individual's genotype. Pharmacogenomics can further be used to determine appropriate dosages and therapeutic regimens. Accordingly, the activity of CGI-69, expression of CGI-69, or CGI-69 mutation(s) in an individual can be determined to guide the selection of appropriate agent(s) for therapeutic or prophylactic treatment.

[0268] Pharmacogenomics deals with clinically significant hereditary variations in the response to modalities due to altered modality disposition and abnormal action in affected persons (Eichelbaum and Evert, 1996; Linder et al., 1997). In general, two pharmacogenetic conditions can be differentiated: (1) genetic conditions transmitted as a single factor altering the interaction of a modality with the body (altered drug action) or (2) genetic conditions transmitted as single factors altering the way the body acts on a modality (altered drug metabolism). These pharmacogenetic conditions can occur either as rare defects or as nucleic acid polymorphisms. For example, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a common inherited enzymopathy in which the main clinical complication is hemolysis after ingestion of oxidant drugs (anti-malarials, sulfonamides, analgesics, nitrofurans) and consumption of fava beans.

[0269] As an illustrative embodiment, the activity of drug metabolizing enzymes is a major determinant of both the intensity and duration of drug action. The discovery of genetic polymorphisms of drug metabolizing enzymes (e.g., N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT 2) and cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP2D6 and CYP2C19) explains the phenomena of some patients who show exaggerated drug response and/or serious toxicity after taking the standard and safe dose of a drug. These polymorphisms are expressed in two phenotypes in the population, the extensive metabolizer (EM) and poor metabolizer (PM). The prevalence of PM is different among different populations. For example, the CYP2D6 gene is highly polymorphic and several mutations have been identified in PM, which all lead to the absence of functional CYP2D6. Poor metabolizers due to mutant CYP2D6 and CYP2CJ9 frequently experience exaggerated drug responses and side effects when they receive standard doses. If a metabolite is the active therapeutic moiety, PM shows no therapeutic response, as demonstrated for the analgesic effect of codeine mediated by its CYP2D6-formed metabolite morphine. At the other extreme are the so-called ultra-rapid metabolizers who are unresponsive to standard doses. Recently, the molecular basis of ultra-rapid metabolism has been identified to be due to CYP2D6 gene amplification.

[0270] The activity of CGI-69, expression of CGI-69 nucleic acid, or mutation content of CGI-69 in an individual can be determined to select appropriate agent(s) for therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of the individual. In addition, pharmacogenetic studies can be used to apply genotyping of polymorphic alleles encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes to the identification of an individual's drug responsiveness phenotype. This knowledge, when applied to dosing or drug selection, can avoid adverse reactions or therapeutic failure and thus enhance therapeutic or prophylactic efficiency when treating a subject with an CGI-69 modulator, such as a modulator identified by one of the described exemplary screening assays.

[0271] 4. Monitoring effects during clinical trials

[0272] Monitoring the influence of agents (e.g., drugs, compounds) on the expression or activity of CGI-69 can be applied not only in basic drug screening, but also in clinical trials. For example, the effectiveness of an agent determined by a screening assay to increase CGI-69 expression, protein levels, or up-regulate CGI-69 activity can be monitored in clinical trails of subjects exhibiting decreased CGI-69 expression, protein levels, or down-regulated CGI-69 activity. Alternatively, the effectiveness of an agent determined to decrease CGI-69 expression, protein levels, or down-regulate CGI-69 activity, can be monitored in clinical trails of subjects exhibiting increased CGI-69 expression, protein levels, or up-regulated CGI-69 activity. In such clinical trials, the expression or activity of CGI-69 and, preferably, other genes that have been implicated in, for example, cancer can be used as a “read out” or markers for a particular cell's responsiveness.

[0273] For example, genes, including CGI-69, that are modulated in cells by treatment with a modality (e.g., food, compound, drug or small molecule) can be identified. To study the effect of agents on metabolic disorders or disorders associated with changes in adipose tissue physiological function or mass, for example, in a clinical trial, cells can be isolated and RNA prepared and analyzed for the levels of expression of CGI-69 and other genes implicated in the disorder. The gene expression pattern can be quantified by Northern blot analysis, nuclear run-on or RT-PCR experiments, or by measuring the amount of protein, or by measuring the activity level of CGI-69 or other gene products. In this manner, the gene expression pattern itself can serve as a marker, indicative of the cellular physiological response to the agent. Accordingly, this response state may be determined before, and at various points during, treatment of the individual with the agent.

[0274] The invention provides a method for monitoring the effectiveness of treatment of a subject with an agent (e.g., an agonist, antagonist, protein, peptide, peptidomimetic, nucleic acid, small molecule, food or other drug candidate identified by the screening assays described herein) comprising the steps of (1) obtaining a pre-administration sample from a subject; (2) detecting the level of expression of an CGI-69, CGI-69 mRNA, or genomic DNA in the preadministration sample; (3) obtaining one or more post-administration samples from the subject; (4) detecting the level of expression or activity of the CGI-69, CGI-69 mRNA, or genomic DNA in the post-administration samples; (5) comparing the level of expression or activity of the CGI-69, CGI-69 mRNA, or genomic DNA in the pre-administration sample with the CGI-69, CGI-69 mRNA, or genomic DNA in the post administration sample or samples; and (6) altering the administration of the agent to the subject accordingly. For example, increased administration of the agent may be desirable to increase the expression or activity of CGI-69 to higher levels than detected, i.e., to increase the effectiveness of the agent. Alternatively, decreased administration of the agent may be desirable to decrease expression or activity of CGI-69 to lower levels than detected, i.e., to decrease the effectiveness of the agent.

[0275] 5. Methods of treatment

[0276] The invention provides for both prophylactic and therapeutic methods of treating a subject at risk of (or susceptible to) a disorder or having a disorder associated with aberrant CGI-69 expression or activity. Examples include disorders in which cell metabolic demands (and consequently, demands on mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum) are high, such as during rapid cell growth. Examples of such disorders and diseases include metabolic disorders or disorders associated with changes in adipose tissue physiological function or mass.

[0277] 6. Disease and disorders

[0278] A number of diseases and disorders can be treated or diagnosed using the CGI-69 compositions of the present invention. Such diseases and disorders include obesity, cachexia, tumors, cancers, and fever associated with viral infections and bacterial infections.

[0279] Diseases and disorders that are characterized by increased CGI-69 levels or biological activity may be treated with therapeutics that antagonize (i.e., reduce or inhibit) activity. Antagonists may be administered in a therapeutic or prophylactic manner. Therapeutics that may be used include: (1) CGI-69 peptides, or analogs, derivatives, fragments or homologs thereof; (2) CGI-69; (3) administration of antisense nucleic acid and nucleic acids that are “dysfunctional” (i.e., due to a heterologous insertion within the coding sequences) that are used to eliminate endogenous function of by homologous recombination (Capecchi, 1989); or (4) modulators (i.e., inhibitors, agonists and antagonists, including additional peptide mimetic of the invention ) that alter the interaction between CGI-69 and its binding partner.

[0280] Diseases and disorders that are characterized by decreased CGI-69 levels or biological activity, such as obesity, may be treated with therapeutics that increase (i.e., are agonists to) activity. Therapeutics that upregulate activity may be administered therapeutically or prophylactically. Therapeutics that may be used include peptides, or analogs, derivatives, fragments or homologs thereof; or an agonist that increases bioavailability.

[0281] Increased or decreased levels can be readily detected by quantifying peptide and/or RNA, by obtaining a patient tissue sample (e.g., from biopsy tissue) and assaying in vitro for RNA or peptide levels, structure and/or activity of the expressed peptides (or CGI-69 mRNAs). Methods include, but are not limited to, immunoassays (e.g., by Western blot analysis, immunoprecipitation followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunocytochemistry, etc.) and/or hybridization assays to detect expression of mRNAs (e.g., Northern assays, dot blots, in situ hybridization, and the like).

[0282] 7. Prophylactic methods

[0283] The invention provides a method for preventing, in a subject, a disease or condition associated with an aberrant CGI-69 expression or activity, by administering an agent that modulates CGI-69 expression or at least one CGI-69 activity. Subjects at risk for a disease that is caused or contributed to by aberrant CGI-69 expression or activity can be identified by, for example, any or a combination of diagnostic or prognostic assays. Administration of a prophylactic agent can occur prior to the manifestation of symptoms characteristic of the CGI-69 aberrancy, such that a disease or disorder is prevented or, alternatively, delayed in its progression. Depending on the type of CGI-69 aberrancy, for example, a CGI-69 agonist or CGI-69 antagonist can be used to treat the subject. The appropriate agent can be determined based on screening assays.

[0284] 8. Therapeutic methods

[0285] Another aspect of the invention pertains to methods of modulating CGI-69 expression or activity for therapeutic purposes. The modulatory method of the invention involves contacting a cell with an agent that modulates one or more of the activities of CGI-69 activity associated with the cell. An agent that modulates CGI-69 activity can be a nucleic acid or a protein, a naturally occurring cognate ligand of CGI-69, a peptide, a CGI-69 peptidomimetic, or other small molecule. The agent may stimulate CGI-69 activity. Examples of such stimulatory agents include active CGI-69 and a CGI-69 that has been introduced into the cell. In another embodiment, the agent inhibits CGI-69 activity. An example of an inhibitory agent includes antisense CGI-69 nucleic acids. Modulatory methods can be performed in vitro (e.g., by culturing the cell with the agent) or, alternatively, in vivo (e.g., by administering the agent to a subject). As such, the invention provides methods of treating an individual afflicted with a disease or disorder characterized by aberrant expression or activity of a CGI-69 or nucleic acid molecule. In one embodiment, the method involves administering an agent (e.g., an agent identified by a screening assay), or combination of agents that modulates (e.g., up-regulates or down-regulates) CGI-69 expression or activity. In another embodiment, the method involves administering a CGI-69 or nucleic acid molecule as therapy to compensate for reduced or aberrant CGI-69 expression or activity.

[0286] Stimulation of CGI-69 activity is desirable in situations in which CGI-69 is abnormally down-regulated and/or in which increased CGI-69 activity is likely to have a beneficial effect; for example, in treating obesity. Conversely, diminished CGI-69 activity is desired in conditions in which CGI-69 activity is abnormally up-regulated and/or in which decreased CGI-69 activity is likely to to have a beneficial effect; for example, in treating cachexia.

[0287] 9. Determination of the biological effect of the therapeutic

[0288] Suitable in vitro or in vivo assays can be performed to determine the effect of a specific therapeutic and whether its administration is indicated for treatment of the affected tissue.

[0289] In various specific embodiments, in vitro assays may be performed with representative cells of the type(s) involved in the patient's disorder, to determine if a given therapeutic exerts the desired effect upon the cell type(s). Modalities for use in therapy may be tested in suitable animal model systems including, but not limited to rats, mice, chicken, cows, monkeys, rabbits, dogs and the like, prior to testing in human subjects. Similarly, for in vivo testing, any of the animal model system known in the art may be used prior to administration to human subjects.

[0290] 10. Prophylactic and therapeutic uses of the compositions of the invention

[0291] CGI-69 nucleic acids and proteins are useful in potential prophylactic and therapeutic applications implicated in a variety of disorders including, but not limited to metabolic disorders or disorders associated with changes in adipose tissue physiological function or mass.

[0292] As an example, a cDNA encoding CGI-69 may be useful in gene therapy, and the protein may be useful when administered to a subject in need thereof. By way of non-limiting example, the compositions of the invention will have efficacy for treatment of patients suffering from metabolic disorders or disorders associated with changes in adipose tissue physiological function or mass.

[0293] CGI-69 nucleic acids, or fragments thereof, may also be useful in diagnostic applications, wherein the presence or amount of the nucleic acid or the protein is to be assessed. A further use could be as an anti-bacterial molecule (i.e., some peptides have been found to possess anti-bacterial properties).

EXAMPLES

[0294] The following examples are included to demonstrate preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the techniques disclosed in the examples that follow represent techniques discovered by the inventors to function well in the practice of the invention, and thus can be considered to constitute preferred modes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodiments that are disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result without departing form the spirit and scope of the invention.

Example 1 Characterization of CGI-69

[0295] In this example, CGI-69 is characterized as a gene induced by cold in brown adipose tissue (BAT) of mice by using differential mRNA analysis. Through this result, along with the analysis of the human CGI-69 protein, it was determined that CGI-69 is a mitochondrial carrier protein (MCP).

[0296] All studies were done in accordance with guidelines set forth by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Genentech. Male FVB-N/J mice (Jackson Labs, Bar Harbor, Me., USA) were received at 3 wk of age and housed at 2 mice/cage until tissue harvest at 6 wk of age. All mice were fed rodent chow ad libitum (Chow 5010, Ralston Purina, St. Louis, Mo., USA) and housed on a 12:12 light/dark cycle (lights on 06:00). Control and Cold-Challenged mice were housed at 22° C. during this 3 wk period, whereas Warm-Acclimated mice were housed at 33° C., within their thermoneutral zone (TNZ). For Cold-Challenged mice, cages were transferred to a 4° C. room for 48 hr prior to tissue harvest. Following CO₂-induced euthanasia in the afternoon, interscapular BAT was excised, carefully cleared of visible white adipose tissue (WAT), connective tissue, and blood vessels, and snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen for subsequent RNA preparation. For all treatment groups (Control, Cold-Challenged, and Warm-Acclimated), 3 independent BAT samples were generated for analysis; each sample was composed of BAT pooled from 10 mice.

[0297] Samples from each treatment group were transferred to CuraGen Corp. (New Haven, Conn., USA), RNA prepared and reverse-transcribed, and subjected to Quantitative Expression Analysis (QEA), the details of which are presented elsewhere (Shimkets, et al., 1999). Analyses focused on identification of genes regulated at least 2-fold by changes in T_(a).

[0298] Full-length cDNAs of human CGI-69 were generated by PCR, using primers [forward 5′CTGAAGCTTCAAGATGGCTGACCAG3′ (SEQ ID NO:5) and reverse 5′GTCCTTGCCTCCTTGCCCCTTTCAG3′ (SEQ ID NO:6)] based on the sequence deposited in the public database (GenBank accession AF151827) and using human liver cDNA as a template (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif., USA). For subcellular localization studies, a carboxy-terminus FLAG-tagged version (FLAG-huCGI-69) was generated by PCR using the forward primer and a FLAG-reverse primer [5′CTTGTCATCGTCGTCCTTGTAGTCGCCGCCCAGAAGCCGGTC 3′ (SEQ ID NO:7)]. CGI-69 PCR products were subcloned from pCR2.1 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif., USA) into pRK7 (Genentech, Inc.) for expression analyses. Also for subcellular localization, MCF7 cells were transfected with pcDNA3-Flag-UCP3 or pRK7-FLAG-huCGI-69, and fixed in 3% formaldehyde as previously-described (Yu, et al., in press). Incubations with anti-FLAG and anti-cytochrome c oxidase antibodies, Cy3 and FITC-conjugated secondary antibodies, and visualization via confocal microscopy were performed as detailed elsewhere (Yu, et al., in press).

[0299] Analysis of BAT genes upregulated by cold identified a 348 bp gene fragment whose QEA profile indicated significant induction in Cold-Challenged mice. Initial identification of this DNA as corresponding to murine EST AA985996 was confirmed by sequencing. Real-time RT-PCR using primers/probes specific to this sequence validated the marked 2-fold cold-induction of the gene in the BAT of Cold-Challenged mice. Using murine EST AA985996 as the template for a contig analysis, and using mouse ESTs from the public database (SeqExtend Program, Genentech, Inc.), a putative murine full-length gene encoding a protein with high homology to the putative human protein CGI-69 (86% identical/98% similar) was discovered, thus confirming its identity as the mouse ortholog. Analysis of the CGI-69 protein structure indicated the presence of 4 mitochondrial carrier domains, 6 potential transmembrane spanning regions, a likely mitochondrial localization (NNPSL algorithm, The Sanger Centre, Hinxton, UK), and 3 regions with reasonable homologies to putative mitochondrial energy transfer signature motifs present in known UCP homologs. The mitochondrial localization of carboxy- and amino-FLAG-tagged CGI-69 indicates that native CGI-69 is targeted to this organelle.

Example 2 Human CGI-69 Variants

[0300] In this example, a novel splice variant of human CGI-69 was discovered (SEQ ID NO:3).

[0301] mRNA abundance was analyzed in total RNA samples treated with DNAse per manufacturer's instructions (GIBCO BRL, Grand Island, N.Y., USA). Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was employed as described previously (Yu, et al., 2000a; Yu, et al., 2000b), using species- and isoform-specific primers and probes recognizing CGI-69. The isoform specificity of the human primer/probe sets were tested against authentic plasmids containing said isoforms. The sequences of primers and probes (5′43′) are as follows:       Human CGI-69 (all isoforms): fwdCCACCTGGTTTCAAGACCCTAC; probeCGCTTCACTGGCACCATGGATGC (SEQ ID NO:9); revTGCCTCACGATCTTCACGAA (SEQ ID NO:10)       Human CGI-69_(L): fwdAGCGAGCTGATGCCTTCCT (SEQ ID NO:11); probeCAGACTGTGGAGCTTCTCCTATACCAAATTGCC (SEQ ID NO:12); revCCCTGTGGATTGGAGAGAGG (SEQ ID NO:13)       Mouse CGI-69: fwdCTGGCTCCTGCTTCGCA (SEQ ID NO:14); probeTCCGGGCTGAATCTGGCACCA (SEQ ID NO:15); revGGAAGCCTGCAAAGAGTCCC (SEQ ID NO:16)

[0302] All data were normalized using 18S mRNA abundance to account for loading differences, using commercially-available 18S primer/probe sets (PE Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., USA).

[0303] A variety of CGI-69 clones were isolated from human liver upon PCR amplification and cloning, one of which corresponded to the original AF151827 sequence in GenBank (“CGI-69”). Numerous clones derived from separate, independent PCR cloning efforts diverged from the GenBank sequence in that they encoded an 8 amino acid insert preceded by a W64L change: this “long version” isoform was termed “CGI-69_(L).” In addition, various additional clones encoded proteins with an additional change (F239L in CGI-69; F247L in CGI-69_(L)). CGI-69 transcript was detected in numerous tissues, with particularly strong abundance in testis and BAT of mice, and testis and kidney of humans. In humans, both the short form(s) and long form(s) of the gene were expressed at various ratios. Transcripts for CGI-69 were widely-detected in human tissues, with particularly high expression in testis and kidney. All values are expressed relative to liver CGI-69 mRNA abundance, and represent abundance of total CGI-69. The relative contribution of CGI-69_(L) (% of total CGI-69 transcript) in humans was: 23% (skeletal muscle, SKM), ˜40-45% (heart, stomach, lung, uterus), 59% (brain), ˜72% (liver, spleen), 80% (kidney), and 91% (testis).

Example 3 Alteration of Δψ_(m)

[0304] This example demonstrates that overexpression of a CGI-69 fusion protein having a carboxy FLAG-tagged CGI-69 diminished Δψ_(m). The FLAG tag contains the negatively charged amino acid sequence DYKDDDDK (SEQ ID NO:17).

[0305] Transfections and measurements of Δψ_(m) were carried out using protocols described previously (Yu, et al., 2000b). 293 cells were co-transfected with pGreen Lantern-1 (green fluorescent protein, GFP; GIBCO BRL) along with pRK7 vector alone (control) or expression vectors containing human CGI-69, OGC, or UCP3. Approximately 24 hr later, treatment-related differences in Δψ_(m) were determined in green-fluorescent protein (GFP) positive cells by monitoring changes in the fluorescence intensity of the Δψ_(m)-sensitive dye TMRE (tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester; Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oreg., USA). The degree of diminution of the Δψ_(m) was assessed by the shift in the relative number of cells displaying lowered Δψ_(m). The transfection protocols employed herein resulted in at least a 30-fold overexpression of each gene as judged by real-time RT-PCR analysis of mRNA abundance.

[0306] Incubations with anti-FLAG and anti-cytochrome c oxidase antibodies, Cy3 and FITC-conjugated secondary antibodies, and visualization via confocal microscopy were performed as detailed elsewhere (Mao, et al., 1999).

[0307] Overexpression of carboxy-FLAG-tagged CGI-69 in 293 cells diminished Δψ_(m) to a similar magnitude as did human UCP3. Similar to untagged CGI-69, amino-FLAG-tagged CGI-69 had no effect on Δψ_(m), despite mitochondrial localization in MCF7 cells. Overexpression of human CGI-69 in 293 cells also did not influence Δψ_(m).

EQUIVALENTS

[0308] Although particular embodiments have been disclosed herein in detail, this has been done by way of example for purposes of illustration only, and is not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of the appended claims that follow. In particular, it is contemplated by the inventors that various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. The choice of nucleic acid starting material, clone of interest, or library type is believed to be a matter of routine for a person of ordinary skill in the art with knowledge of the embodiments described herein. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications considered to be within the scope of the following claims.

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1. An isolated CGI-69 nucleic acid comprising: (a) a nucleic acid sequence comprising at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO:1, excluding the CGI-69 nucleic acid having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:2; or (b) a complement of the nucleic acid sequence of (a).
 2. The isolated CGI-69 nucleic acid of claim 1 comprising: (a) a nucleic acid sequence comprising at least 80% identity with a fragment of SEQ ID NO:1 consisting of nucleotide 14 to nucleotide 1093, excluding the CGI-69 nucleic acid having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 consisting of nucleotide 118 to nucleotide 1173; or (b) a complement of the nucleic acid sequence of (a).
 3. The isolated CGI-69 nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid sequence encodes a polypeptide comprising at least 80% identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:3, excluding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:4, wherein the polypeptide comprises at least one biological activity of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:3.
 4. The isolated CGI-69 nucleic acid of claim 3, wherein biological activity comprises mitochondrial localization.
 5. A vector comprising the isolated CGI-69 nucleic acid of claim
 1. 6. The vector of claim 5, wherein the vector is an expression vector comprising the CGI-69 nucleic acid of claim 1 operably linked to a promoter.
 7. The vector of claim 6, wherein the promoter is recognized by a mammalian cell transformed with the vector.
 8. A host cell comprising the vector of claim
 5. 9. The host cell of claim 8, wherein the cell is a 293 cell.
 10. An isolated CGI-69 polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, excluding the CGI-69 polypeptide having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.
 11. The isolated CGI-69 polypeptide of claim 10, wherein said polypeptide is a biologically active CGI-69 polypeptide.
 12. The isolated CGI-69 polypeptide of claim 10, wherein said amino acid sequence has at least 90% sequence identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NOS:3.
 13. A CGI-69 fusion protein comprising a polypeptide fused to the carboxy-terminus of a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.
 14. The CGI-69 fusion polypeptide of claim 13, wherein the fusion protein acts as an uncoupling protein.
 15. The CGI-69 fusion polypeptide of claim 14, wherein the polypeptide fused to the carboxy-terminus is negatively charged.
 16. The CGI-69 fusion polypeptide of claim 14, wherein the polypeptide fused to the carboxy-terminus comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:17.
 17. An antibody that specifically binds to the polypeptide of claim
 10. 18. A method of treating a metabolic disorder comprising modulating the activity of CGI-69.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said modulating activity of CGI-69 comprises decreasing the activity of CGI-69.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said decreasing activity comprises decreasing the expression of CGI-69.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein said metabolic disorder is selected from the group consisting of cachexia, tumors, cancers, viral infections and bacterial infections.
 22. The method of claim 18, wherein said modulating activity of CGI-69 comprises increasing the activity of CGI-69.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein said increasing activity comprises increasing the expression of CGI-69.
 24. The method of claim 22, wherein said metabolic disorder is selected from the group consisting of obesity, tumors, cancers, viral infections and bacterial infections.
 25. A method for determining whether a compound up-regulates or down-regulates expression of a CGI-69 gene in a cell, comprising: (a) contacting the cell with said compound; and (b) detecting expression of the gene.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein mRNA encoding CGI-69 is detected.
 27. The method of claim 25, wherin a CGI-69 polypeptide is detected.
 28. The method of claim 25, wherin said composition is a cell.
 29. A transgenic non-human animal, having a disrupted CGI-69 gene.
 30. The transgenic non-human animal of claim 29, wherein the non-human animal is a mouse.
 31. A transgenic non-human animal, comprising a transgene having at least 80% sequence identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or a complement of said sequence.
 32. A method of screening for a mutation in CGI-69 comprising comparing a nucleic acid sequence to the sequence of SEQ ID Nos:1 or
 2. 33. A method of measuring CGI-69 agonist or antagonist activity of a compound comprising: (a) contacting a composition comprising CGI-69 activity with the compound; and (b) determining a change in the CGI-69 activity.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the composition is a cell. 